Lukanga Marshes
The Lukanga Marshes of the Kafue River are an almost circular area of 2,600 square kilometers in the central province of Zambia . The size corresponds roughly to that of the Kafueauen. To the north is Kapiri Mposhi , the East Kabwe , in the south Chibombo and west Mumbwa . In addition to the Kafue, they are fed by the Lukanga river, which gives it its name .
description
The swamps are a rarely explored wilderness area where cranes, red lechwe , sitatunga and pythons can be found. They are very difficult to access, which has prevented a complete inventory of the flora and fauna so far. Depending on the season, they have a water surface between 3000 and 8000 km², which is a maximum of 80 kilometers long and 65 kilometers wide.
economy
Economically, it is a fish breeding and catching area near Lusaka and the Copperbelt , the most important sales markets. Allegedly almost 1000 tons of fish are caught by around 700 fishermen with around 500 boats every year. In addition, these swamps are a deposit area of sediments and metal residues from the Copperbelt, which makes fishing in them problematic. How many people live in these swamps is still unknown today. Like the Bangweul swamps , they are politically, economically and socially a separate world in which the state plays almost no role. There is no economic data, although the amount of fish caught is substantial and there must be other products such as game meat, cattle, wood, charcoal, rice, cassava and corn.
Water management
From a water management perspective, the Lukanga Marshes have a water level regulating function for the Kafue River despite the high level of evaporation. The downstream Itezhitezhi dam exercises this more predictably, but without the swamps it would have had to be designed larger.
Web links
Coordinates: 14 ° 24 ′ 0 ″ S , 27 ° 38 ′ 0 ″ E