Sanaga River

The Sanaga River (formerly German: Zannaga) is the largest river in Cameroon located in East Region, Centre Region and Littoral Region. Its length is about 603 km (375 mi) from the confluence of Djérem and Lom River. The total length of Sanaga-Djérem River system is about 1,067.5 km (663.3 mi). Djérem is the longest source of Sanaga River with a total length of 464.5 km.

Sanaga River
The Sanaga River after the Edea Hydroelectric Power Station
Map of the Sanaga River drainage basin
Location
Country	Cameroon
Regions	East Region, Centre Region, Littoral Region
Cities	Edéa, Nanga Eboko, Bélabo
Physical characteristics
Source	Confluence of Djérem River and Lom River[1]
• coordinates	5.323772°N 13.397769°E / 5.323772; 13.397769
• elevation	628 m (2,060 ft)
Mouth	Bight of Biafra
• coordinates	3.559338°N 9.652175°E / 3.559338; 9.652175
• elevation	0 m
Length	603 km (375 mi), with Djérem River 1,067.5 km (663.3 mi)
Basin size	132,990 km2 (51,350 mi2)
Discharge
• location	Edéa
• average	1,985 m3/s (70,100 cu ft/s)
• minimum	234 m3/s (8,300 cu ft/s)
• maximum	6,950 m3/s (245,000 cu ft/s)
Discharge
• location	Bight of Biafra, Cameroon (near mouth)
• average	2,072 m3/s (73,200 cu ft/s)[2]
• minimum	473 m3/s (16,700 cu ft/s)[2]
• maximum	5,700 m3/s (200,000 cu ft/s)[2]
Basin features
River system	Sanaga River
Tributaries
• left	Long River, Tete River, Sele River, Mfam River, Ngoba River
• right	Mbam River, Mbuku River, Ligene River, Djam River, Dorong River, Jape River, Uem River
Waterbodies	Song Loulou Hydroelectric Power Station, Edea Hydroelectric Power Station
Bridges	Japoma Bridge

Course

The Sanaga River has its source at the Adamawa Plateau.^[3] It is formed by the confluence of the Djérem and Lom Rivers in the north of the East Region. Djérem River has a total length of 464.5 km (288.6 mi) and Lom River a total length of 424.2 km (263.6 mi). Apart from these originating rivers, the largest tributary of the Sanaga is Mbam River with a total length of 548 km (341 mi).^[4]

Slope of Sanaga River^[1]

Climate

The Sanaga River forms a boundary between two tropical moist forest ecoregions. The Cross-Sanaga-Bioko coastal forests lie to the north between the Sanaga River and the Cross River of Nigeria, and the Atlantic Equatorial coastal forests extend south of the river through southwestern Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, Cabinda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Hydrology

The flow of the river was measured at Edéa in m³/s:^[1]

Dams and reservoirs

Beginning at the headwaters, there are 2 dams on the Sanaga River:

Dam	Nameplate capacity (MW)	Reservoir	Surface area (km2)	Total capacity (million m3)
Song Loulou	384			10
Edea	264

Transport

Edea bridge on the Sanaga

• The Camrail railway bridges the Sanaga River at Edea.

Forest around the Sanaga River

Around the Sanaga River