Betsiboka River
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Betsiboka River is a 525 km long river in central-north Madagascar. It flows northwestward and empties to the Bombetoka Bay forming a large delta. River is distinct for its red-coloured water which is caused by the river sediments. The river carries an enormous amount of silt, much of which is reddish orange in colour, to the sea. Much silt is deposited at the mouth of the river, or in the bay.
It is a dramatic evidence of the catastrophic erosion of northwestern Madagascar. The removal of the native forest for cultivation and pastureland during the past 50 years has led to massive annual soil losses approaching 250 metric tons per hectare (112 tons per acre) in some regions of the island, the largest amount recorded anywhere in the world.
[edit] References
- Floods in Madagascar at NASA Earth Observatory
- Sediment Laden Drainages at Lunar and Planetary Institute, USRA
- NASA: Earth from Space
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