Guide - Topography

Topography

NORTHERN RHODESIA occupies an area of 285,130 square miles and lies on the plateau of Central Africa. Its neighbouring territories are Angola (Portuguese West Africa) to the west, the Belgian Congo to the north and north-east, Tanganyika to the north-east, Nyasaland to the east, Portuguese East Africa and Southern Rhodesia to the south-east and south, and the Caprivi Strip of South West Africa also to the south. The Zambezi River forms the southern boundary of Northern Rhodesia for about 520 miles, separating it from the Caprivi Strip and Southern Rhodesia. The Luapula River forms another natural boundary between the Protectorate and the Belgian Congo along the northern edge of the Congo Pedicle and north as far as Lake Mweru. The remaining boundaries follow watersheds and occasional streams, or are marked by beacons.

With the exception of the valleys of the Zambezi, the Luapula, the Kafue and the Luangwa Rivers, the greater part of Northern Rhodesia is a flat plateau, 3,000 to 5,000 feet above sea level. In the north-eastern districts, the plateau rises to occasional altitudes of over 5,000 feet.

The three great lakes of Northern Rhodesia are Lake Bang-weulu, Lake Mweru and Lake Tanganyika, all in the Northern area. Lake Bangweulu and the swamps at its southern end cover an area of about 3,800 square miles. In the lakes and the lagoons and water-ways of the Bangweulu and Mweru swamps, fish and water-fowl are prolific.

Northern Rhodesia is fortunate in having the two greatest waterfalls in Africa, one at its southern end—the famous Victoria Falls near Livingstone—and the other at its northern extremity—the Kalambo Falls, near Abercorn—which have a sheer drop of 704 feet.

The Victoria Falls—Main Falls