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76-508: The river rises in the east of South Kivu and flows in a northwesterly direction through Maniema , joining the Lualaba downstream from Kindu . The upper Ulindi valley has a richly diverse fauna, including many monkey species, chimpanzees, leopards, buffaloes, elephants and antelopes. The valley has traditionally been occupied by the Lega and Nyindu people , speakers of Kilega and Kinyindu ,

152-496: A rock shelter under and behind the waterfall. Eventually, the outcropping , more resistant cap rock will collapse under pressure to add blocks of rock to the base of the waterfall. These blocks of rock are then broken down into smaller boulders by attrition as they collide with each other, and they also erode the base of the waterfall by abrasion , creating a deep plunge pool in the gorge downstream. Streams can become wider and shallower just above waterfalls due to flowing over

228-516: A "green" source of power for the Twangiza gold project. The mining concessions cover 1,164 square kilometres (449 sq mi) and are located 41 kilometres (25 mi) south-southwest of Bukavu . The proven and probable reserve based on a 0.5-gram-per-tonne cutoff grade is 4.54 million ounces of gold. The planned power plant will be in a "pristine montane forest", and will impact local fish-farming. A study showed that 1,860 households living in

304-570: A Bantu languages. It is administratively divided into the Mwenga , Shabunda and Pangi territories. In 1874 the Ulindi river was visited by the explorer Verney Lovett Cameron , the second European to cross Africa. During the Congo Free State period, the region was under the control of Arabs from the east coast of Africa. Some of these such as Munie Chabodu and Munie Mtoro were agents of

380-603: A chiefdom carries the honored title of " mwami " (king). The chiefdom is further subdivided into groupements (groupings), which extend the reach of traditional authority to regrouped villages ( localités ). Village heads and chiefs manage administrative and governance duties in their respective areas. Some of the notable chiefdoms and sectors in South Kivu: South Kivu is divided into 34 health zones ( zones de santé ). These are grouped into five health districts ( districts de santé ). These districts do not match

456-742: A considerable number of Congolese view the Banyamulenge as unwelcome intruders encroaching upon their native territories, thereby intensifying the deep-rooted animosity directed towards them. The UN estimates that in 2005, approximately 45,000 women were raped in South Kivu. It forms various armed groups, including the Rwandan-backed armed groups, Banyamulenge armed groups, Raia Mutomboki , Mai-Mai militias , ADF (Allied Democratic Forces) and FDLR. There have been numerous accounts and allegations of sexual violence perpetrated by members of

532-689: A coup d'état, President Laurent-Désiré Kabila relieved Rwandan General James Kabarebe of his position as Chief of Staff of the AFDL, while also issuing an order for the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA) soldiers to withdraw from Congolese territory. In response, on 2 August 1998, a faction of Tutsi soldiers mutinied and, with the assistance of the AFDL, the Banyamulenge militias, the Ugandan army (Ugandan People's Defence Force; UPDF), and

608-418: A distinct relationship with waterfalls since prehistory, travelling to see them, exploring and naming them. They can present formidable barriers to navigation along rivers. Waterfalls are religious sites in many cultures. Since the 18th century, they have received increased attention as tourist destinations, sources of hydropower , and—particularly since the mid-20th century—as subjects of research. A waterfall

684-473: A long period of being fully formed, the water falling off the ledge will retreat, causing a horizontal pit parallel to the waterfall wall. Eventually, as the pit grows deeper, the waterfall collapses to be replaced by a steeply sloping stretch of river bed. In addition to gradual processes such as erosion, earth movement caused by earthquakes or landslides or volcanoes can lead to the formation of waterfalls. Waterfalls are an important factor in determining

760-530: A mild mountain climate with a 3 to 4-month dry season from June to September. Cities like Bukavu and Uvira maintain an average annual temperature of 19 °C, while higher plateaus and mountains, such as Minembwe and Kahuzi-Biéga National Park, are even cooler, fostering layered and grassy mountain vegetation . Conversely, the central and western parts, including territories like Shabunda and Mwenga , feature an equatorial climate dominated by dense equatorial forests , with abundant rainfall throughout

836-480: A much higher extent than previously thought. Waterfalls also affect terrestrial species. They create a small microclimate in their immediate vicinity characterized by cooler temperatures and higher humidity than the surrounding region, which may support diverse communities of mosses and liverworts . Species of these plants may have disjunct populations at waterfall zones far from their core range. Waterfalls provide nesting cover for several species of bird, such as

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912-465: A pioneering work on waterfalls. In 1942 Oscar von Engeln wrote of the lack of research on waterfalls: Waterfall sites more than any other geomorphic feature attract and hold the interest of the general public. Because they have such a popular approval waterfalls are not given serious attention by some students of systematic geomorphology. This attitude is not to be commended. Waterfalls are significant items for geomorphic investigation. As late as 1985

988-795: A role in many cultures, as religious sites and subjects of art and music. Many artists have painted waterfalls and they are referenced in many songs, such as those of the Kaluli people in Papua New Guinea . Michael Harner titled his study of the Jivaroan peoples of Ecuador The Jivaro: People of the Sacred Waterfalls. Artists such as those of the Hudson River School and J. M. W. Turner and John Sell Cotman painted particularly notable pictures of waterfalls in

1064-603: A scholar felt that "waterfalls remain a very much neglected aspect of river studies". Studies of waterfalls increased dramatically in the second half of the 20th century. Numerous waterfall guidebooks exist, and the World Waterfall Database is a website cataloging thousands of waterfalls. Many explorers have visited waterfalls. European explorers recorded waterfalls they came across. In 1493, Christopher Columbus noted Carbet Falls in Guadeloupe , which

1140-530: A staggering loss of lives. Numerous rebel groups and militias emerged, further intensifying the violence and leading to pervasive human rights violations , including large-scale massacres and incidents of sexual violence . On August 6, 1998, factions of the ANC/RPA/FAB perpetrated a massacre, claiming the lives of numerous civilians in Uvira , in South Kivu. As civilians sought shelter or attempted to flee

1216-421: A waterfall continues to be debated. Waterfalls are sometimes interchangeably referred to as "cascades" and "cataracts", though some sources specify a cataract as being a larger and more powerful waterfall and a cascade as being smaller. A plunge pool is a type of stream pool formed at the bottom of a waterfall. A waterfall may also be referred to as a "foss" or "force". Waterfalls are commonly formed in

1292-767: Is Munyamulenge (South Kivu Banyamulenge Tutsi) who broke with the Rwandan-backed Rally for Congolese Democracy (RCD) back in 2003. He was formerly commander of the 122nd Brigade in the Minembwe area, who in 2005 rebelled against the authorities in defence of the Congolese Banyamulenge, against harassment and physical abuse. Also previously former second in command of 4th Military Region in Kasai-Occidental . Africa Confidential said in 2011 that he 'clearly remains implacably opposed to

1368-566: Is a melting pot of various ethnic groups, including the Shi , Fuliiru , Bembe , Vira , Lega , Nyindu , Holoholo , Bwari , Hunde , Nyanga , Amba , Swaga, Shu, and Mbuti . The region is also home to a small fraction of Hutu and Tutsi agro-pastoralists who were transplanted by Belgian colonial authorities in the mid-20th century. Since the First Congo War , the region has been plagued by armed conflicts and civil unrest. During

1444-824: Is also no agreement how to measure the height of a waterfall, or even what constitutes one. Angel Falls in Venezuela is the tallest waterfall in the world , the Khone Phapheng Falls in Laos are the widest, and the Inga Falls on the Congo River are the biggest by flow rate , while the Dry Falls in Washington are the largest confirmed waterfalls ever. The highest known subterranean waterfall

1520-570: Is also rich in natural resources , including minerals like gold , coltan , tin , and tungsten . South Kivu Province is characterized by numerous rivers , lakes , and waterways that crisscross through its landscapes. The region lies in the center of the African Great Lakes , encompassed by Lake Kivu towards the west and sharing its border with the Virunga National Park on the east. The Ruzizi River , one of

1596-700: Is associated with the presence of lakes, including Lake Kivu and Lake Tanganyika , which are major features of the landscape in South Kivu Province. In addition to volcanic and rift valley formations, the province also contains sedimentary basins . These basins, such as the Lake Kivu Basin , are areas where layers of sediment have accumulated over time. They are important for their mineral resources , including deposits of diamonds , gold , copper , cobalt , tin , tantalum and lithium . The province's eastern mountainous region experiences

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1672-470: Is dominated by impacts of water-borne sediment on the rock, while downstream the erosion occurs more rapidly. As the watercourse increases its velocity at the edge of the waterfall, it may pluck material from the riverbed, if the bed is fractured or otherwise more erodible. Hydraulic jets and hydraulic jumps at the toe of a falls can generate large forces to erode the bed, especially when forces are amplified by water-borne sediment. Horseshoe-shaped falls focus

1748-419: Is generally defined as a point in a river where water flows over a steep drop that is close to or directly vertical. In 2000 Mabin specified that "The horizontal distance between the positions of the lip and plunge pool should be no more than c 25% of the waterfall height." There are various types and methods to classify waterfalls. Some scholars have included rapids as a subsection. What actually constitutes

1824-408: Is referred to as a hanging valley . Another reason hanging valleys may form is where two rivers join and one is flowing faster than the other. When warm and cold water meets by a gorge in the ocean, large underwater waterfalls can form as the cold water rushes to the bottom. The caprock model of waterfall formation states that the river courses over resistant bedrock , erosion happens slowly and

1900-515: Is to represent the state at the local level and oversee chiefdoms ( collectivités ). South Kivu Province is divided into eight territories: The city is a decentralized administrative unit with legal status. Cities are led by mayors appointed by presidential decree , as advised by the Ministry of the Interior and Security. The mayor has a deputy mayor , appointed in the same way. The mayor

1976-666: Is under the hierarchical authority of the provincial governor . South Kivu has three main cities of significance: Baraka , Bukavu (the provincial capital), and Uvira . The northern town of Minova expanded rapidly from 1994 to 2012 with a steady inflow of refugees following the Rwandan genocide as well as both First and Second Congo Wars , along with ongoing regional conflicts. The city of Bukavu has experienced an exponential urban growth since colonial times. Sadiki et al. (2010) report about 620,000 inhabitants for 2008. The population growth rate increased incredibly in 2002 due to

2052-804: Is undoubtedly presented by the continent of Africa, the 'darkness' of which is almost entirely due to this cause." Waterfalls are often visited by people simply to see them. Hudson theorizes that they make good tourism sites because they are generally considered beautiful and are relatively uncommon. Activities at waterfalls can include bathing, swimming, photography, rafting , canyoning , abseiling , rock climbing , and ice climbing . Waterfalls can also be sites for generating hydroelectric power and can hold good fishing opportunities. Wealthy people were known to visit areas with features such as waterfalls at least as early as in Ancient Rome and China . However, many waterfalls were essentially inaccessible due to

2128-635: The Burundi army ( Forces Armées Burundaises ; FAB), launched a rebellion aimed at overthrowing President Laurent-Désiré Kabila. Within a few weeks, this coalition formed the Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie (RCD) and gained control over major urban centers in North and South Kivu, Orientale Province , North Katanga, and even managed to penetrate into the Équateur Province . The war resulted in wide-scale displacement, famine, and

2204-524: The Congolese army ( Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo ; FARDC) in eastern Congo. The 10th Military Region of the newly established Congolese military, led by General Pacifique Masunzu, whose undisciplined former factional soldiers are responsible for human rights violations due to a continuing culture of impunity for military personnel, compounded by challenging living conditions, inadequate remuneration, and insufficient training. Masunzu

2280-678: The First and Second Congo Wars , it became a battleground for the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo-Zaire (AFDL), the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA), and the Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD). The presence of multiple armed groups in the area has led to insecurity, instability, and humanitarian crises. The conflict has resulted in the displacement of civilians , human rights abuses , and atrocities against

2356-477: The Gocta Cataracts were first announced to the world in 2006. Waterfalls can pose major barriers to travel. Canals are sometimes built as a method to go around them, other times things must be physically carried around or a railway built . In 1885, the geographer George Chisholm wrote that, "The most signal example of the effect of waterfalls and rapids in retarding the development of civilisation

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2432-627: The Mitumba Mountains and the Kahuzi-Biéga National Park , which is home to endangered mountain gorillas and lush bamboo forests . South Kivu also boasts several notable lakes, including Lake Kivu and Lake Tanganyika . In addition to its mountains and lakes, the province also features a network of rivers and dense tropical rainforests . The major rivers in the province include the Ruzizi , which forms part of

2508-623: The Sange and Uvira , located in Uvira Territory . These regions experienced severe flooding, resulting in a sudden surge of water that overwhelmed the local infrastructure and communities. The force of the floodwaters led to the collapse of many houses, leaving families homeless and vulnerable. The aftermath of the flooding also led to the displacement of people who sought refuge in temporary shelters or with relatives in safer areas. Similarly, other areas in South Kivu Province also faced

2584-541: The black swift and white-throated dipper . These species preferentially nest in the space behind the falling water, which is thought to be a strategy to avoid predation. Some waterfalls are also distinct in that they do not flow continuously. Ephemeral waterfalls only flow after a rain or a significant snowmelt. Waterfalls can also be found underground and in oceans. The geographer Andrew Goudie wrote in 2020 that waterfalls have received "surprisingly limited research." Alexander von Humboldt wrote about them in

2660-400: The 1820s. There is no name for the specific field of researching waterfalls, and in the published literature been described as "scattered", though it is popular to describe studying waterfalls as "waterfallology". An early paper written on waterfalls was published in 1884 by William Morris Davis , a geologist known as the "father of American geography". In the 1930s Edward Rashleigh published

2736-703: The 19th century. One of the versions of the Shinto purification ceremony of misogi involves standing underneath a waterfall in ritual clothing. In Japan the Nachi Falls are a site of pilgrimage, as are falls near Tirupati , India, and the Saut-d'Eau , Haiti. The Otavalos use Piguchi waterfall as part of the Churru ritual which serves as a coming of age ceremony. Many waterfalls in Africa were places of worship for

2812-535: The AFDL and RCD factions throughout the duration of the Second Congo War , have been subject to widespread disdain among many Congolese due to their alleged involvement in a range of nefarious activities. These accusations include launching assaults on refugee camps and densely populated villages , engaging in civilian executions , and orchestrating acts of terrorism targeting Zairian civilians across various regions of South and North Kivu. Consequently,

2888-644: The AFDL forces. Local people were coerced into burying the bodies in four large mass graves . In Kamanyola , on October 20, 1996, the AFDL forces killed an unknown number of refugees and Zairian civilians, disposing of their bodies in pit latrines . The AFDL persisted in launching attacks on South Kivu's refugee camps , rivers , airports , and densely populated villages . They carried out civilian executions and acts of terrorism against Zairian civilians in various locations, including Nyantende, Bukavu, Lwakabiri, Kashusha, Ulindi River , Kigulube, Ivela, Balika, Kavumu Airport , Lulingu , and Keisha. In May 1997,

2964-799: The AFDL gained control over significant parts of the country and captured the capital, Kinshasa . Mobutu fled the country and Laurent-Désiré Kabila assumed leadership, renaming the country the Democratic Republic of the Congo. From late 1997 onwards, the relationship between President Laurent-Désiré Kabila, Rwanda and the Tutsi soldiers present in the AFDL deteriorated. Laurent-Désiré Kabila's government faced multiple accusations of marginalizing Tutsi political factions , excluding them from his administration, and displaying preferential treatment toward his Katanga clan. In July 1998, driven by fears of

3040-610: The ANC conducted a massacre resulting in 300 deaths in the village of Katogota in South Kivu. The war officially ended in 2003 with the signing of the Sun City Agreement , which aimed to establish a transitional government and promote peace and stability in the DRC. However, sporadic violence and conflicts in the region persisted even after the official end of the war. The Banyamulenge , who actively aligned themselves with

3116-803: The First Congo War with a massacre in the Lemera groupement (grouping) of South Kivu, on October 6, 1996. The massacre claimed the lives of several dozen individuals. In a hospital massacre , 37 individuals, including two medical personnel , were killed. On October 20, 1996, the AFDL forces killed an unknown number of refugees and Zairian civilians in Rubenga, a village in South Kivu. Another attack occurred on October 21, 1996, in Lubarika village, where an unknown number of Rwandan and Burundian refugees, along with Zairian civilians, were killed by

Ulindi River - Misplaced Pages Continue

3192-683: The Free State. The town of Shabunda was established by the Arabs. In 1899 it had an estimated population of 8,000. In June 1997 reports surfaced of a massacre of refugees in February that year at a bridge over the Ulindi just north of Shabunda in South Kivu. The refugees included unarmed civilians and armed Hutu fighters who had been involved in the 1994 massacre of Tutsis in Rwanda. They were attacked by Rwandan Tutsi troops who were fighting with

3268-631: The Rwandan government.' His deputy Colonel Baudouin Nakabaka is a former Mai-Mai fighter with close links to the FDLR . In July 2007, United Nations human rights expert Yakin Erturk called the situation in South Kivu the worst she has ever seen in four years as the global body's special investigator for violence against women . Sexual violence throughout Congo is "rampant," she said, blaming rebel groups,

3344-489: The area between the Twangiza and Lulimbohwe rivers would be affected, with 1,257 having to be resettled. Most of the people are farmers or artisanal miners. In the rivers downstream of the project about 1,725 workers are engaged in recovery of gold, tin, tungsten and tantalum, in operations controlled by various rebel groups and warlords, often under the protection of local authorities. The illegally extracted metals are sold on

3420-441: The area, leading to displacement, human rights abuses, and the disruption of essential services. At the outset of the First Congo War , South Kivu played a key role as a battleground for the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (AFDL), led by Laurent-Désiré Kabila . Its plateaus and hills served as strategic strongholds for the advancing AFDL forces, who aimed to pursue Hutu refugees , particularly

3496-412: The armed forces and national police. Her statement included that "Frequently women are shot or stabbed in their genital organs, after they are raped. Women, who survived months of enslavement, told me that their tormentors had forced them to eat excrement or the human flesh of murdered relatives." In June 2014, around 35 people were killed in an attack in the South Kivu village of Mutarule . The attack

3572-507: The black market. Decades of artisanal mining have contaminated the river beds with lead, chromium, arsenic and possibly mercury. South Kivu South Kivu ( Swahili : Jimbo la Kivu Kusini ; French : Sud-Kivu ) is one of 26 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Its capital is Bukavu . Situated within the Great Rift Valley , South Kivu is bordered by Lake Kivu , Burundi , and Tanzania to

3648-565: The border with Burundi , and the Ulindi River , which flows into Lake Tanganyika . The rainforests of South Kivu are part of the Congo Basin , one of the world's largest tropical rainforest systems. These forests are teeming with biodiversity, housing a wide variety of plant and animal species . They provide habitat for endangered wildlife , including chimpanzees , forest elephants , and various species of primates . The region

3724-723: The combat zone, they fell victim to the FAC in confrontations, resulting in hundreds of fatalities. Moreover, on the same day, members of the ANC, the armed wing of the RCD rebel, killed 13 people, including the chief of the Kiringye area, in the village of Lwiburule in South Kivu. Another massacre unfolded as elements of the ANC/RPA claimed the lives of 15 individuals in the vicinity of Kivovo, Kigongo, and Kalungwe, all situated in South Kivu. The victims suffered from dagger wounds or were shot near

3800-531: The distribution of lotic organisms such as fish and aquatic invertebrates, as they may restrict dispersal along streams. The presence or absence of certain species can have cascading ecological effects, and thus cause differences in trophic regimes above and below waterfalls. Certain aquatic plants and insects also specialize in the environment of the waterfall itself. A 2012 study of the Agbokim Waterfalls , has suggested that they hold biodiversity to

3876-981: The east; Maniema Province to the west; North Kivu Province to the north; and Tanganyika Province to the south. Covering an extensive area of approximately 65,070 square kilometers (25,120 square miles), it is administratively divided into eight territories and boasts a population of roughly 7,066,400 in 2020. The province's topography is an amalgamation of geographical features comprising mountains , forests , waterfalls , and plains . The area boasts an array of wildlife species , including mountain gorillas , chimpanzees , African Forest Elephants , lions , giraffes , and vervet monkeys . It also hosts African buffalos , baboons , clawed frogs , dwarf crocodiles , savannah monitors , gray duikers , common agamas , and endangered eastern lowland gorillas . The province's national parks and nature reserves , such as Kahuzi-Biéga National Park and Itombwe Nature Reserve , are UNESCO World Heritage Sites . South Kivu

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3952-458: The entry of massive population from Goma after the Nyiragongo eruption of 17 January 2002. Traditional authority is vested in chieftaincies , also known as collectivities ( collectivités ) and sectors. The selection of the powerholder within a chiefdom or sector is determined by ethnic traditions and later recognized or formalized by the state, following traditional norms. The leader of

4028-435: The erosion to a central point, also enhancing riverbed change below a waterfall. A process known as "potholing" involves local erosion of a potentially deep hole in bedrock due to turbulent whirlpools spinning stones around on the bed, drilling it out. Sand and stones carried by the watercourse therefore increase erosion capacity. This causes the waterfall to carve deeper into the bed and to recede upstream. Often over time,

4104-484: The ex- FAR / Interahamwe , while simultaneously seeking to overthrow Mobutu 's government. This response was prompted by the mistreatment of Tutsi civilians under Mobutu's regime, which subjected them to arbitrary arrests and detentions conducted by Zairian police and soldiers . The AFDL's pursuit of Hutu refugees led to widespread violence and atrocities. The AFDL forces, resorting to indiscriminate killings , mass executions , and acts of torture , initiated

4180-441: The extensive arms of state administration, functioning as representatives of the central government . Each territory within the province is led by a Territorial Administrator and two Assistant Territorial Administrators. Recognizing the vastness of the territories, administrative management positions are established, headed by resident assistant territorial administrators or administrative management position leaders, aiming to bridge

4256-542: The gap between governance and the governed. Appointed by the Ministry of the Interior and Security , territorial officials are included in the state's budgetary provisions. While they directly report to the Ministry of the Interior, they are also accountable to the governor , who acts as the representative of both the President in the province and the Ministry of the Interior. The primary role of territorial administrators

4332-622: The geography of the territories. Waterfall A waterfall is any point in a river or stream where water flows over a vertical drop or a series of steep drops. Waterfalls also occur where meltwater drops over the edge of a tabular iceberg or ice shelf . Waterfalls can be formed in several ways, but the most common method of formation is that a river courses over a top layer of resistant bedrock before falling onto softer rock, which erodes faster, leading to an increasingly high fall. Waterfalls have been studied for their impact on species living in and around them. Humans have had

4408-524: The larger Virunga Mountains , which stretches from Uganda through Rwanda and into the DRC. The province also includes parts of the Albertine Rift , a branch of the larger East African Rift System . This rift valley is characterized by tectonic forces that led to the stretching and thinning of the Earth's crust , resulting in the formation of deep valleys and steep escarpments . The rift valley

4484-472: The local population. Additionally, the region's rich natural resources , such as minerals and timber , have been a driving factor for some of the conflicts. South Kivu Province was created from Sud-Kivu District in 1989, when the existing Kivu Province was divided into three parts (South Kivu, North Kivu and Maniema ). For three decades, the region has been plagued by armed conflicts and violence. Various armed groups and militias have operated in

4560-512: The longest rivers in the world, flows along the province's eastern edge. Meanwhile, its tributaries—the Sange , Kavinvira, Kavimvira, Luvimvi, Luvungi, Luvubu, Luberizi, Runingu, Mulongwe, Kiliba, Kalimabenge, and Lugulu Rivers—run through the verdant terrains, nurturing the surrounding ecosystems and supporting farming activities . The province is home to several lakes, including Lake Tanganyika which serve as critical sources of freshwater and habitats for diverse aquatic species . While

4636-661: The native peoples and got their names from gods in the local religion. "In Chinese tradition, the waterfall represents" the season of autumn , yin , and the Chinese dragon 's power over water that comes from the former two. There are thousands of waterfalls in the world, though no exact number has been calculated. The World Waterfall Database lists 7,827 as of 2013, but this is likely incomplete; as noted by Hudson, over 90% of their listings are in North America. Many guidebooks to local waterfalls have been published. There

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4712-667: The primary port in Kalundu and at the facilities of SEP Congo. On August 24, 1998, RCD forces and Rwandan soldiers unleashed a massacre in Kasika and neighboring villages in South Kivu, resulting in the deaths of more than 1,000 people, as reported by the United Nations Mapping Report . The majority of the recovered bodies, predominantly women and children , were discovered on the 60-kilometer journey from Kilungutwe village to Kasika. Prior to their murders,

4788-423: The province is rich in natural resources , it is also fraught with challenges and dangers. The area is susceptible to periodic floods , particularly during the rainy season , which cause disruptions to both the community and infrastructure. Over the last few years, parts of the province have been ravaged by flooding. In March 2020–23, torrential rains and the overflow of nearby tributaries inundated homes, including

4864-405: The provinces of North Kivu to the north, Maniema to the west, and Tanganyika to the south. To the east, it shares borders with Rwanda , Burundi and Tanzania , forming part of the African Great Lakes region . The province is predominantly mountainous , with the western side of the Albertine Rift Valley running through its territory. This creates a series of peaks and valleys, including

4940-445: The rebel forces of Laurent Kabila to overthrow the dictator Mobutu Sese Seko . Witnesses said that hundreds of people were killed. In April 2009 Banro Corporation , a Canadian gold miner, reported results of a feasibility study for a hydroelectric power plant on the river. The project would exploit a 600 metres (2,000 ft) drop in the river over a distance of 18 kilometres (11 mi). It would cost about US$ 133.8 million, giving

5016-656: The rise of Romanticism , and increased importance of hydropower with the Industrial Revolution . European explorers often preferred to give waterfalls names in their own language; for instance, David Livingstone named Victoria Falls after Queen Victoria , though it was known by local peoples as Mosi-oa-Tunya. Many waterfalls have descriptive names which can come from the river they are on, places they are near, their features, or events that happened near them. Some countries that were colonized by European nations have taken steps to return names to waterfalls previously renamed by European explorers. Exploration of waterfalls continues;

5092-404: The rock shelf, and there is usually a deep area just below the waterfall because of the kinetic energy of the water hitting the bottom. However, a study of waterfalls systematics reported that waterfalls can be wider or narrower above or below a falls, so almost anything is possible given the right geological and hydrological setting. Waterfalls normally form in a rocky area due to erosion. After

5168-422: The treacherous terrain surrounding them until improvements began to be made such as paths to the falls, becoming common across the United Kingdom and America in the 1800s and continuing through the 1900s and into the 21st century. Remote waterfalls are now often visited by air travel. Human development has also threatened many waterfalls. For instance, the Guaíra Falls , once one of the most powerful waterfalls in

5244-444: The upper course of a river where lakes flow into valleys in steep mountains. A river sometimes flows over a large step in the rocks that may have been formed by a fault line . Waterfalls can occur along the edge of a glacial trough , where a stream or river flowing into a glacier continues to flow into a valley after the glacier has receded or melted. The large waterfalls in Yosemite Valley are examples of this phenomenon, which

5320-426: The waterfall will recede back to form a canyon or gorge downstream as it recedes upstream, and it will carve deeper into the ridge above it. The rate of retreat for a waterfall can be as high as one-and-a-half metres per year. Often, the rock stratum just below the more resistant shelf will be of a softer type, meaning that undercutting due to splashback will occur here to form a shallow cave-like formation known as

5396-667: The women were subjected to rape followed by brutal disembowelment using daggers . From December 30, 1998, to January 2, 1999, RCD forces committed another massacre , claiming the lives of over 800 civilians, primarily belonging to the Babembe community , in the small village of Makobola in South Kivu. Many victims endured machete attacks or were shot at close range, while others met their demise through burning or drowning in nearby rivers. Infants and young children were callously thrown into deep pit latrines, left to perish, while adults who dared to disobey orders and attempted to escape were met with bullets . On May 14, 2000, members of

5472-677: The world, were submerged in 1982 by a human-made dam, as were the Ripon Falls in 1952. Conversely, other waterfalls have seen significantly lower water levels as a result of diversion for hydroelectricity , such as the Tyssestrengene in Norway. Development of the areas around falls as tourist attractions has also destroyed the natural scene around many of them. Waterfalls are included on thirty-eight World Heritage Sites and many others are protected by governments. Waterfalls play

5548-593: The wrath of floods, including Nyambasha , Bushushu, Rambira, and Nyamukubi in Kalehe Territory . These communities, situated in low-lying areas near rivers and water bodies , are particularly susceptible to the destructive impact of flooding. Heavy rains and rising water levels overwhelm local infrastructure and defenses, causing homes to collapse and forcing residents to flee for safety. The province houses many volcanoes , including Mount Kahuzi , Mount Muhi and Mount Kabobo . These volcanoes are part of

5624-641: The year. The Ruzizi Plain , however, presents a unique micro-climate —a tropical climate with a dry tendency and lower rainfall (± 1,000 mm/year). The region's vegetation is characterized by a grassy savannah with thorns and Myrtillocactus geometrizans , most notably in the Kahuzi-Biéga National Park. South Kivu Province, like all other provinces, is administratively divided into territories and cities . Further subdivisions of territories are: chiefdoms or sectors , groupements (groupings), and villages. Territories serve as

5700-612: Was apparently part of dispute over cattle. On 7 August 2015 the 2015 South Kivu earthquake , a magnitude 5.8 earthquake, struck 35 km (22 mi) north-northeast of Kabare at a depth of 12.0 km (7.5 mi). One policeman was killed. On July 16, 2020, the Ngumino and Twiganeho militias of the Banyamulenge community perpetrated the Kipupu massacre , which claimed the lives of 220 people in South Kivu village of Kipupu, as reported by provincial lawmakers. South Kivu borders

5776-551: Was likely the first waterfall Europeans recorded seeing in the Americas. In the late 1600s, Louis Hennepin visited North America, providing early descriptions of Niagara Falls and the Saint Anthony Falls . The geographer Brian J. Hudson argues that it was uncommon to specifically name waterfalls until the 1700s. The trend of Europeans specifically naming falls was in tandem with increased scientific focus on nature,

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