Chishimba Falls
| Chishimba Falls | ||
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| Coordinates | 10 ° 4 ′ 30 ″ S , 30 ° 33 ′ 30 ″ E | |
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| place | Northern Province , Zambia | |
| Falling watercourse | Luombe | |
| Estuarine waters | Luombe → Lukulu → Chambeshi | |
The Chishimba Falls of the Luombe River are located in Zambia in the Northern Province about 30 km west of the city of Kasama at an altitude of 1318 m . The Luombe is about 160 km long and falls 140 km behind its source over a series of limestone cliffs. Over a distance of a good 2 km, its water falls 70 m deep.
Chishimba Falls are not easy to get to and are rarely visited. The area is considered a sacred place by the Babemba and there is not a single village within a 10 km radius. The first cataract is called Chipondo and divides in two rapids around a small island. Then follow the actual falls, the first of which is the Mutumuna at 20 m, followed by 500 m of calm river, behind which Kapala, a waterfall of 10 m high, lies. Then follow 500 m with many rapids, behind which the third waterfall follows the Chichimba with 30 m and plunges into a narrow, rocky gorge. The spray of the falls creates a dense rainforest on the banks.
A run-of-river power station is located at the falls , which uses the height of all falls.