Thika River
The Thika River flows through central Kenya and is a tributary of Tana River. The Thika River is a significant source of hydroelectric power in Kenya and provides most of the water supply for Nairobi, Kenya's capital and largest city.
Course
The Thika River originates in the orginates in the Aberdare Range.[1] It flows to the Tana River, which empties into the Indian Ocean.[1]
A landmark along the river's course is Thika Falls, near the town of Thika.[2] Thika Falls has a drop of about 25 meters in a wilderness area within walking distance of the Blue Post Hotel, which is one of the oldest hotels in Kenya.[2]
Ecology
During the early twentieth century colonial big game hunters noted hippopotamus and crocodiles along the deeper sections of the river.[3] Babboons and leopards inhabited the forest near Thika Falls.[3] Antelopes and zebras lived in the open country upriver from the falls.[3] Rhinoceros, lions, and hyenas also resided in the area.[3]
Water source
Eighty percent of the water supply for Nairobi, Kenya's capital city, comes from the Thika River.[4]
Deforestation and overgrazing have caused soil erosion problems.[4] River flow, reservoir size, and water quality have been reduced by sediments.[4]
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectric power from the Thika River supplies a significant portion of Kenya's electricity. The first proposal for exploiting the Thika River's hydroelectric potential was put forward shortly after World War I by Guglielmo Marconi as a means for supplying power for a planned radio communications station in Nairobi.[5] Marconi's plan was not implemented, but in 1994 the Thika River Dam was constructed with a resulting water reservoir of 70 million cubic meters.[5][4] The Thika River also contributes to the Masinga Reservoir, which serves the Seven Forks Dams.[4] Taken together, three-quarters of Kenya's electrical supply derives from these dams.[4]
References
- ^ a b British Dam Society Conference (1992). Water Resources and Reservoir Engineering. Thomas Telford. pp. 131–140. Retrieved 2009-02-20.
- ^ a b Eva Ambros (1999). Kenya: An Up-to-date Travel Guide with 153 Color Photos and 14 Maps. Hunter Publishing. pp. 159–162. Retrieved 2009-02-20.
- ^ a b c d Peter MacQueen (1909). In Wildest Africa: The Record of a Hunting and Exploration Trip Through Uganda, Victoria Nyanza, the Kilimanjaro Region and British East Africa, with an Account of an Ascent of the Snowfields of Mount Kibo, in East Central Africa, and a Description of the Various Native Tribes. George Ball and Sons. pp. 273–274. Retrieved 2009-02-20.
- ^ a b c d e f Moriasi, Daniel; et al. (2007). HYDROLOGIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF CONSERVATION PRACTICES IN OKLAHOMA AGRICULTURAL WATERSHEDS (abstract). United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. p. 1. Retrieved 2009-02-20.
{{cite book}}: Explicit use of et al. in:|author=(help) - ^ a b Peter J. Hugill (1999). Global Communications since 1844. JHU Press. pp. 118–119. Retrieved 2009-02-20.