Mara River . Located in East Africa, it is one of the most important rivers for wildlife. Its 395 kilometers in length run through two of the largest nature reserves: the Masai Mara Nature Reserve in Kenya and the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.
The river and the plain on both sides give life to the largest wild herds on the planet; Millions of wildebeest and zebra are born, graze, migrate and die here. Lions, cheetahs, and hyenas hunt on its plains while crocodiles are found in the same river.
Summary
[ hide ]
- 1 Geography
- 2 Extension and flow of the river
- 3 Economic and ecological importance
- 4 The great land migration
- 5 Masai Mara Reserve
- 6 Sources
Geography
The river rises from the Mau Escarpment, which runs along the western edge of the Great Rift Valley in Kenya.
The dry season runs from November to April, when the number of animals in the basin decreases due to the absence of vegetation.
The rainy season occurs from June to October, with average rainfall of up to 600 mm being recorded in the months of June and July.
Extension and flow of the river
The Mara River has a total length of 395 kilometers. It is born in Kenya and flows into Lake Victoria after crossing part of the territory of Tanzania. It is not particularly mighty and its average width is only 45 meters.
Economic and ecological importance
The Mara is essential for the life and livelihood of the people of Kenya and Tanzania. The course of the river across borders is often a source of conflict. Whether it’s the dam project or water pollution from agriculture, what happens to the Mara in Kenya affects those who depend on the river further down in Tanzania.
The river provides drinking water, fish, and a place to bathe and wash. Also, countless species of animals and plants in the adjacent wetlands depend on the river.
The great land migration
Main article: Wildebeest
Drowned wildebeest complete the Mara’s life cycle.
The Mara crosses the path of one of the largest land migrations on the planet. During the peak of the migration, wildebeest cross the river on several occasions, sometimes resulting in hundreds of them drowning. These mass drownings impact the life of the river. [1]
The data indicates that between 2001 and 2015 mass drownings occurred every year but two, and that wildebeest meat makes up 35 to 50 percent of the diet of its most common fish.
The most frequent terrestrial scavengers are marabou and vultures , which consume about 6 to 9 percent of soft tissue.
Contrary to popular belief, and due to their low metabolic rate, crocodiles barely eat 2 percent of the bodies left in the river.
Masai Mara Reserve
Main article: Maasai Mara
The Masai Mara National Reserve owes part of its name to this river, as well as to the Masai tribe , native to this region.
The Masai Mara is home to more than 450 species of birds . It is run by the Kenyan government, and has anti-poaching units, located outside the areas frequented by tourists.
It is famous for its lion population and for being home to endangered species such as the black rhinoceros , the hippopotamus and the spotted hyena .
