Editing Zambezi (section)

== Tributaries ==
'''''Upper Zambezi: 507,200&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, discharges 1044 m<sup>3</sup>/s at Victoria Falls, comprising:'''''

: ''Northern Highlands catchment, 222,570&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, 850 m<sup>3</sup>/s at [[Lukulu]]:''
:* Chifumage River: [[Angola]]n central plateau
:* [[Luena River, Angola|Luena River]]: Angolan central plateau
:* [[Kabompo River]]: 72,200&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, NW highlands of Zambia
:* [[Lungwebungu River]]: 47,400&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, Angolan central plateau
:''Central Plains catchment, 284,630&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, 196 m<sup>3</sup>/s (Victoria Falls–Lukulu):''
:* [[Luanginga River]]: 34,600&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, Angolan central plateau
:* Luampa River/[[Luena River, Zambia]]: 20,500&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, eastern side of Zambezi
:* [[Cuando River|Cuando /Linyanti/Chobe River]]: 133,200&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, Angolan S plateau & [[Caprivi Strip|Caprivi]]

'''''Middle Zambezi cumulatively 1,050,000&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, 2442 m<sup>3</sup>/s, measured at Cahora Bassa Gorge'''''
[[File:Río Zambeze, Zambia-Zimbabue, 2018-07-27, DD 14.jpg|thumb|View of the Middle Zambezi]]
: (Middle section by itself: 542,800&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, discharges 1398 m<sup>3</sup>/s (C. Bassa–Victoria Falls)
:''Gwembe Catchment, 156,600&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, 232 m<sup>3</sup>/s (Kariba Gorge–Vic Falls):''
:* [[Gwayi River]]: 54,610&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, NW Zimbabwe
:* [[Sengwa River]]: 25,000&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, North-central Zimbabwe
:* [[Sanyati River]]: 43,500&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, North-central Zimbabwe
:''Kariba Gorge to C. Bassa catchment, 386200 km<sup>2</sup>, 1166 m<sup>3</sup>/s (C. Bassa–Kariba Gorge):''
:* [[Kafue River]]: 154,200&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, 285 m<sup>3</sup>/s, West-central Zambia & [[Copperbelt]]
:* [[Luangwa River]]: 151,400&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, 547 m<sup>3</sup>/s, Luangwa Rift Valley & plateau NW of it
:* [[Panhane River]]: 23,897&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, North-central Zimbabwe plateau

'''''Lower Zambezi cumulatively, 1,378,000&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, 3424 m<sup>3</sup>/s, measured at Marromeu'''''

: (Lower section by itself: 328,000&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, 982 m<sup>3</sup>/s (Marromeu–C. Bassa))
:* Luia River: 28,000&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, Moravia-Angonia plateau, N of Zambezi
:* Luenha River/[[Mazoe River]]: 54,144&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, 152 m<sup>3</sup>/s, Manica plateau, NE Zimbabwe
:* [[Shire River]], 154,000&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, 539 m<sup>3</sup>/s, [[Lake Malawi]] basin
: Zambezi Delta, 12,000&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>

'''Total [[Zambezi Basin|Zambezi river basin]]: 1,390,000&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, 3424 m<sup>3</sup>/s discharged into delta'''

''Source: Beilfuss & Dos Santos (2001)''<ref name="Beilfuss"/> The [[Kalahari Basin|Okavango Basin]] is not included in the figures because it only occasionally overflows to any extent into the Zambezi.

Because of the rainfall distribution, northern tributaries contribute much more water than southern ones; for example: The Northern Highlands catchment of the upper Zambezi contributes 25%, Kafue 8%, Luangwa and Shire Rivers 16% each, total 65% of Zambezi discharge. The large Cuando basin in the south-west, though, contributes only about 2 m<sup>3</sup>/s because most is lost through evaporation in its swamp systems. The 1940s and 1950s were particularly wet decades in the basin. Since 1975, it has been drier, the average discharge being only 70% of that for the years 1930 to 1958.<ref name="Beilfuss"/>