View source for Ogooué River

{{Short description|River in Gabon, Africa}}
{{Infobox river
| name              = Ogooué
| image             = Bassin versant de l'Ogooué-fr.svg
| image_size        =
| image_caption     = The Ogooué watershed
| source1_location  = [[Kengue]], [[Republic of the Congo]]
| mouth = [[Atlantic Ocean]]
| mouth_location    = [[Port Gentil]], [[Gabon]]
| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = [[Gabon]], [[Republic of the Congo]]
| length={{cvt|1,200|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref name="Investigating links between rainfall variations in the Ogooué River basin and ENSO in the Pacific Ocean over the period 1940–1999">{{cite report|url=https://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl-doc/pleins_textes/2022-05/010084854.pdf|title=Investigating links between rainfall variations in the Ogooué River basin and ENSO in the Pacific Ocean over the period 1940–1999|last1=Sakaros|first1=Bogning|last2=Frédéric|first2=Frappart|last3=Gil|first3=Mahe|last4=Adrien|first4=Paris|last5=Raphaël|first5=Onguéné|last6=Fabien|first6=Blarel|last7=Fernando|first7=Niño|last8=Jacques|first8=Etame|last9=Jean-Jacques|first9=Braun|publisher=Copernicus, PIAHS|page=181-186|date=2021}}</ref>
| source1_elevation = {{cvt|840|m|abbr=on}}
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|-1.0272|8.8848|region:GA|display=inline}} 
| mouth_elevation   = {{cvt|0|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| discharge2_avg    =(Period: 1971–2000){{cvt|4,485.4|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="Central West Coast">{{cite web|url=https://www.riversnetwork.org/V1/index.php/component/content/?view=article&id=192&catid=270&Itemid=179|title=Central West Coast|last=Eric|first=Tilman}}</ref>
| basin_size={{cvt|225,217.5|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}<ref name="Central West Coast">{{cite web|url=https://www.riversnetwork.org/V1/index.php/component/content/?view=article&id=192&catid=270&Itemid=179|title=Central West Coast|last=Eric|first=Tilman}}</ref>
|progression=[[Atlantic Ocean]]
|river_system=Ogooué River
|extra = 
|discharge2_location=[[Lambaréné]]
|discharge1_location=''Ogooué Delta''
|discharge2_min = {{cvt|1,610|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="Evaluation Hidrologique de l'Afrique Sub-Saharienne Pays de Afrique l'Ouest">{{cite web|url=http://www.hydrosciences.fr/sierem/Bibliotheque/biblio/EvalHydroAfriqueOuestCameroun.pdf|title=Evaluation Hidrologique de l'Afrique Sub-Saharienne Pays de Afrique l'Ouest|year=1992}}</ref>
|discharge2_max = {{cvt|9,440|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="Evaluation Hidrologique de l'Afrique Sub-Saharienne Pays de Afrique l'Ouest">{{cite web|url=http://www.hydrosciences.fr/sierem/Bibliotheque/biblio/EvalHydroAfriqueOuestCameroun.pdf|title=Evaluation Hidrologique de l'Afrique Sub-Saharienne Pays de Afrique l'Ouest|year=1992}}</ref>
|discharge3_location = [[Ndjolé]]
|discharge3_min = {{cvt|1,200|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="Evaluation Hidrologique de l'Afrique Sub-Saharienne Pays de Afrique l'Ouest">{{cite web|url=http://www.hydrosciences.fr/sierem/Bibliotheque/biblio/EvalHydroAfriqueOuestCameroun.pdf|title=Evaluation Hidrologique de l'Afrique Sub-Saharienne Pays de Afrique l'Ouest|year=1992}}</ref>
|discharge3_avg =(Period: 1971–2000){{cvt|3,194.8|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="Central West Coast">{{cite web|url=https://www.riversnetwork.org/V1/index.php/component/content/?view=article&id=192&catid=270&Itemid=179|title=Central West Coast|last=Eric|first=Tilman}}</ref>
|discharge3_max = {{cvt|6,600|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="Evaluation Hidrologique de l'Afrique Sub-Saharienne Pays de Afrique l'Ouest">{{cite web|url=http://www.hydrosciences.fr/sierem/Bibliotheque/biblio/EvalHydroAfriqueOuestCameroun.pdf|title=Evaluation Hidrologique de l'Afrique Sub-Saharienne Pays de Afrique l'Ouest|year=1992}}</ref>
|discharge4_location = [[Lastoursville]]
|discharge4_min = {{cvt|650|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="Evaluation Hidrologique de l'Afrique Sub-Saharienne Pays de Afrique l'Ouest">{{cite web|url=http://www.hydrosciences.fr/sierem/Bibliotheque/biblio/EvalHydroAfriqueOuestCameroun.pdf|title=Evaluation Hidrologique de l'Afrique Sub-Saharienne Pays de Afrique l'Ouest|year=1992}}</ref>
|discharge4_avg =(Period: 1971–2000){{cvt|1,305|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="Central West Coast">{{cite web|url=https://www.riversnetwork.org/V1/index.php/component/content/?view=article&id=192&catid=270&Itemid=179|title=Central West Coast|last=Eric|first=Tilman}}</ref>
|discharge4_max = {{cvt|2,800|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="Evaluation Hidrologique de l'Afrique Sub-Saharienne Pays de Afrique l'Ouest">{{cite web|url=http://www.hydrosciences.fr/sierem/Bibliotheque/biblio/EvalHydroAfriqueOuestCameroun.pdf|title=Evaluation Hidrologique de l'Afrique Sub-Saharienne Pays de Afrique l'Ouest|year=1992}}</ref>
|discharge5_location = [[Franceville]]
|discharge5_min = {{cvt|122|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="Evaluation Hidrologique de l'Afrique Sub-Saharienne Pays de Afrique l'Ouest">{{cite web|url=http://www.hydrosciences.fr/sierem/Bibliotheque/biblio/EvalHydroAfriqueOuestCameroun.pdf|title=Evaluation Hidrologique de l'Afrique Sub-Saharienne Pays de Afrique l'Ouest|year=1992}}</ref>
|discharge5_avg = (Period: 1953–1981){{cvt|253|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="Evaluation Hidrologique de l'Afrique Sub-Saharienne Pays de Afrique l'Ouest">{{cite web|url=http://www.hydrosciences.fr/sierem/Bibliotheque/biblio/EvalHydroAfriqueOuestCameroun.pdf|title=Evaluation Hidrologique de l'Afrique Sub-Saharienne Pays de Afrique l'Ouest|year=1992}}</ref>
|discharge5_max = {{cvt|520|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="Evaluation Hidrologique de l'Afrique Sub-Saharienne Pays de Afrique l'Ouest">{{cite web|url=http://www.hydrosciences.fr/sierem/Bibliotheque/biblio/EvalHydroAfriqueOuestCameroun.pdf|title=Evaluation Hidrologique de l'Afrique Sub-Saharienne Pays de Afrique l'Ouest|year=1992}}</ref>
|discharge1_avg =(Period: 1971–2000){{cvt|5,148.05|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="Central West Coast">{{cite web|url=https://www.riversnetwork.org/V1/index.php/component/content/?view=article&id=192&catid=270&Itemid=179|title=Central West Coast|last=Eric|first=Tilman}}</ref>
|discharge1_min={{cvt|1,950|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="Source book for the inland fishery resources of Africa Vol. 2">{{cite web|url=
https://www.fao.org/3/t0360e/T0360E06.htm|title=Source book for the inland fishery resources of Africa Vol. 2}}</ref>
|discharge1_max ={{cvt|7,340|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}
({{cvt|13,500|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="Source book for the inland fishery resources of Africa Vol. 2">{{cite web|url=
https://www.fao.org/3/t0360e/T0360E06.htm|title=Source book for the inland fishery resources of Africa Vol. 2}}</ref>
| tributaries_left = [[Letili River|Letili]], [[Lebombi River|Lebombi]], [[Lekedi River|Lekedi]], [[Leyou River|Leyou]], [[Lolo River|Lolo]], [[Offoue River|Offoue]], [[Ngounié River|Ngounié]]
| tributaries_right = [[Mpassa River|Mpassa]], [[Lekoni River|Léconi]], [[Sebe River|Sebe]], [[Lassio River|Lassio]], [[Dilo River|Dilo]], [[Ivindo River|Ivindo]], [[Nke River|Nké]], [[Okano River|Okano]], [[Abanga River|Abanga]]}}

The '''Ogooué''' (or '''Ogowe'''), also known as the Nazareth River, some {{cvt|1,200|km|mi|abbr=on}} long, is the principal river of [[Gabon]] in west-central Africa and the fourth largest river in Africa by volume of discharge, trailing only the [[Congo River|Congo]], [[Kasai river|Kasai]] and [[Niger River|Niger]]. Its [[Drainage basin|watershed]] drains nearly the entire country of Gabon, with some tributaries reaching into the [[Republic of the Congo]], [[Cameroon]], and [[Equatorial Guinea]].<ref name="readersnatural">{{Cite book|title=Natural Wonders of the World|publisher=Reader's Digest Association, Inc|year=1980|isbn=0-89577-087-3|editor-last=Scheffel|editor-first=Richard L.|location=United States of America|pages=275|editor-last2=Wernet|editor-first2=Susan J.}}</ref>

==Geography==
===Course===
The source of the Ogooué River was discovered in 1894 by [[Mary Kingsley]], an English explorer who travelled up the banks by [[steamboat]] and [[canoe]].{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}} The river rises in the northwest of the [[Bateke Plateau]]x near [[Kengue]], [[Republic of Congo]].<ref name="readersnatural" /> It runs northwest, and enters [[Gabon]] near ''Boumango''. ''Poubara Falls'' are near [[Maulongo]]. From [[Lastoursville]] up to [[Ndjole]], the Ogooué is non-navigable due to [[rapids]]. From the latter city, it runs west, and enters the [[Gulf of Guinea]] near Ozouri, south of [[Port Gentil]]. The [[river delta|Ogowe Delta]] is quite large, about 100 km long and 100 km wide.

===Delta===
A 30,000 ha site in the delta of the Ogooué River, including much of Mandji Island, has been designated an [[Important Bird Area]] (IBA) by [[BirdLife International]] because it supports significant populations of many bird species.<ref name=bli>{{cite web |url= https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/ogoou%C3%A9-delta-and-mandji-island-iba-gabon|title= Ogooué delta and Mandji island|author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2024|website= BirdLife Data Zone|publisher= BirdLife International|access-date= 2024-12-01}}</ref>

===Basin===
The Ogooué Basin is {{cvt|223,000|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}, of which {{cvt|189,500|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} or 85 percent lies within Gabon.<ref name="Africa: International River Basin register">{{cite web|url=https://www.cawater-info.net/twinbasinxn/africa_e.htm|title=Africa: International River Basin register}}</ref> 

Ogooué River Basin area by country:<ref name="Africa: International River Basin register">{{cite web|url=https://www.cawater-info.net/twinbasinxn/africa_e.htm|title=Africa: International River Basin register}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable col1left" {{right}}
! rowspan=2 | Country
! colspan=2 | Area
! rowspan=2 | %
|-
! {{km2}}
! {{mi2}}
|-
|{{flag|Cameroon}}
|{{convert|5,200|km2|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| 2.34
|-
|{{flag|Equatorial Guinea}}
|{{convert|2,000|km2|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| 0.89
|-
|{{flag|Gabon}}
|{{convert|189,500|km2|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| 84.98
|-
|{{flag|Republic of the Congo}}
| {{convert|26,300|km2|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| 11.79
|-
| colspan="4" |
|-
| ''{{noflag|Ogooué basin total}}''
| {{convert|223,000|km2|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| 100.00
|}
Distance from river mouth:<ref name="PROSPECTION HYDRO-ÉLECTRIQUE GÉNÉRALE DES BASSINS DE L'OGOOUÉ ET DE LA NYANGA">{{cite report|url=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/39891005.pdf|title=PROSPECTION HYDRO-ÉLECTRIQUE GÉNÉRALE DES BASSINS DE L'OGOOUÉ ET DE LA NYANGA|page=75|date=1966|publisher=ÉLECTRICITÉ DE FRANCE (EDF)}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
 ! Station
 ! River
kilometer

(rkm)
 ! Altitude
(m)
|-
|[[Lambaréné]]
|183
|12
|-
|[[Ngounie River|Ngounié]]*
|196
|13
|-
|[[Abanga River|Abanga]]*
|242
|20
|-
|[[Ndjolé]]
|280
|25
|-
|[[Okano River|Okano]]*
|314
|40
|-
|[[Ngolo River|N'golo]]*
|359
|72
|-
|[[Offoue River|Offoué]]*
|424
|142
|-
|[[Booué]]
|451
|161
|-
|[[Ivindo River|Ivindo]] *
|481
|180
|-
|[[Dilo River|Dilo]]*
|503
|182
|-
|[[Lolo River|Lolo]]*
|512
|186
|-
|[[Lassio River|Lassio]]*
|535
|200
|-
|[[Lastoursville]]
|616
|226
|-
|[[Sebe River|Sébé]]*
|685
|242
|-
|[[Leyou River|Leyou]]*
|696
|243
|-
|[[Lekoni River|Léconi]]*
|714
|248
|-
|[[Lekabi River|Lékabi]]*
|725
|249
|-
|[[Lebombi River|Lébombi]]*
|774
|270
|-
|[[Mpassa River|Mpassa]]*
|802
|280
|-
|[[Baniaka River|Baniaka]]*
|871
|426
|}
<nowiki>*</nowiki>River in confluence

Gauging stations along the Ogooué River:<ref name="Central West Coast">{{cite web|url=https://www.riversnetwork.org/V1/index.php/component/content/?view=article&id=192&catid=270&Itemid=179|title=Central West Coast|last=Eric|first=Tilman}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
 ! rowspan="2" |Station
 ! rowspan="2" |River kilometer (rkm)
 ! rowspan="2" |Elevation (m)
 ! rowspan="2" |Drainage basin
(km<sup>2</sup>)
 ! rowspan="2" |Average discharge (m<sup>3</sup>/s) *
|-
|-
| colspan="5" |
|-
|''Ogooué Delta''
|0
|0
|225,217.5
|5,148.05
|-
|[[Lambaréné]]
|183
|12
|205,228.5
|4,485.4
|-
|[[Ndjolé]]
|280
|25
|160,106.9
|3,191.5
|-
|[[Booué]]
|451
|161
|130,931.4
|2,746.9
|-
|[[Lastoursville]]
|616
|226
|45,767.1
|1,305
|-
|[[Franceville]]
|802
|280
|8,570.2
|233.4
|-
| colspan="5" |
|-
| colspan="5" |<sup>*</sup> Period: 1971–2000
|}

==Discharge==
{{Bar chart
| title       =  Ogooué River multiannual average discharge at gauging stations. Period from 1971 to 2000.<ref name="Central West Coast">{{cite web|url=https://www.riversnetwork.org/V1/index.php/component/content/?view=article&id=192&catid=270&Itemid=179|title=Central West Coast|last=Eric|first=Tilman}}</ref>
| label_type  = Period
| data_type   = Average discharge (m<sup>3</sup>/s)
| bar_width   = 14
| width_units = em
| data_max    =5,150
| label1=Ogooué Delta
| data1=5,148
| label2=Lambaréné
| data2=4,485
| label3=Ndjolé
| data3=3,192
| label4=Booué
| data4=2,747
| label5=Lastoursville
| data5=1,305
| label6=Franceville
| data6=233
}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
 ! rowspan="2" | Month
 ! colspan="3" | Average monthly flow 
(m³/s) at delta<ref name="SITE RAMSAR BAS OGOOUE">{{cite conference|url=https://rsis.ramsar.org/RISapp/files/RISrep/GA1851RISformer_160316.pdf|title=SITE RAMSAR BAS OGOOUE|conference=Session de la Conférence des Parties contractantes|publisher=FDR|page=22|date=2008|location=Liberville, Gabon|last1=Mengue|first1=Medou|last2=Ondamba|first2=Ombanda|last3=Ndjokounda|first3=Come|last4=Mounganga|first4=Magloir-Désiré|last5=Bayani|first5=Emmanuel|last6=Mikala|first6=Rufin}}</ref><ref name="Estimates of Freshwater Discharge from Continents: Latitudinal and Seasonal Variations">{{cite journal|journal=Journal of Hydrometeorology|doi=10.1175/1525-7541(2002)003<0660:EOFDFC>2.0.CO;2|url=https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/hydr/3/6/1525-7541_2002_003_0660_eofdfc_2_0_co_2.xml|last1=Aiguo|first1=Dai|last2=Kevin|first2=E. Trenberth|title=Estimates of Freshwater Discharge from Continents: Latitudinal and Seasonal Variations|date=2002|volume=3 |issue=6 |pages=660–687|bibcode=2002JHyMe...3..660D }}</ref>
|-
!Dry years
!Normal
!Wet years
|-
|DEC–FEB
|3,744.5
|4,285
|4,826.5
|-
|MAR–MAY
|4,883
|6,336
|7,789
|-
|JUN–AUG
|1,625.3
|1,997
|2,188.7
|-
|SEP–NOV
|6,935
|8,041
|9,147
|-
| colspan="4" |
|-
|''Average''
|''4,296.7''
|'''''5,142.25'''''
|''5,987.8''
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="text-align:center;"
|+Ogooué River discharge (m<sup>3</sup>/s) at [[Lambaréné]] gauging station (period from 1929–2017):
 ! Water year
 ! Min
 ! ''Mean''
 ! Max
 ! rowspan="41" |
 ! Water year
 ! Min
 ! ''Mean''
 ! Max
|-
|1929/30
|1,250
|''3,569''
|5,030
|1969/70
|2,193
|''5,386''
|9,533
|-
|1930/31
|1,390
|''4,238''
|6,980
|1970/71
|1,649
|''4,214''
|8,220
|-
|1931/32
|1,590
|''4,259''
|7,580
|1971/72
|1,739
|''3,826''
|6,871
|-
|1932/33
|1,380
|''4,126''
|6,630
|1972/73
|1,720
|''4,199''
|7,100
|-
|1933/34
|2,390
|''5,449''
|10,800
|1973/74
|1,570
|''4,252''
|8,260
|-
|1934/35
|1,850
|''4,888''
|6,690
|1974/75
|1,670
|''4,642''
|8,940
|-
|1935/36
|1,690
|''4,612''
|7,850
| colspan="4" |1975/76–1979/80: No data
|-
|1936/37
|1,930
|''4,835''
|8,210
|1980/81
|1,550
|''4,290''
|7,820
|-
|1937/38
|1,780
|''4,791''
|7,180
|1981/82
|1,740
|''4,100''
|6,900
|-
|1938/39
|2,170
|''5,905''
|11,300
|1982/83
|1,140
|''3,520''
|8,550
|-
|1939/40
|1,950
|''4,762''
|6,930
|1983/84
|902
|''4,230''
|6,530
|-
|1940/41
|1,740
|''3,936''
|6,460
|1984/85
|2,200
|''4,670''
|7,610
|-
|1941/42
|1,430
|''3,707''
|5,720
|1985/86
|1,610
|''4,060''
|6,800
|-
|1942/43
|1,370
|''4,292''
|6,880
|1986/87
|1,580
|''3,690''
|7,160
|-
|1943/44
|2,330
|''5,874''
|9,450
|1987/88
|1,970
|''4,940''
|8,880
|-
|1944/45
|2,140
|''5,273''
|7,980
|1988/89
|1,780
|''4,700''
|9,810
|-
|1945/46
|1,690
|''4,600''
|8,490
|1989/90
|2,060
|''5,030''
|10,800
|-
|1946/47
|2,340
|''5,861''
|9,310
| colspan="4" |1990/91–1994/95: No data
|-
|1947/48
|2,120
|''5,545''
|9,780
|1995/96
|1,300
|''4,450''
|8,310
|-
|1948/49
|2,640
|''5,912''
|10,600
|1996/97
|1,320
|''4,216''
|6,510
|-
|1949/50
|1,950
|''5,300''
|9,600
|1997/98
|1,110
|''3,661''
|6,300
|-
|1950/51
|1,640
|''5,280''
|9,470
|1998/99
|1,290
|''3,595''
|7,940
|-
|1951/52
|2,350
|''5,660''
|9,080
|1999/00
|1,280
|''4,798''
|8,350
|-
|1952/53
|2,050
|''4,770''
|7,200
|2000/01
|1,290
|''3,971''
|7,770
|-
|1953/54
|1,300
|''3,597''
|5,690
|2001/02
|1,200
|''4,629''
|8,260
|-
|1954/55
|1,900
|''4,383''
|7,530
|2002/03
|1,570
|''4,722''
|8,030
|-
|1955/56
|1,400
|''4,278''
|8,100
|2003/04
|1,900
|''3,703''
|5,590
|-
|1956/57
|1,660
|''4,252''
|7,420
|2004/05
|1,350
|''3,717''
|6,020
|-
|1957/58
|979
|''3,093''
|5,110
|2005/06
|1,500
|''4,695''
|8,640
|-
|1958/59
|1,580
|''4,179''
|8,250
|2006/07
|1,740
|''4,883''
|8,720
|-
|1959/60
|2,160
|''5,073''
|9,350
|2007/08
|1,640
|''5,112''
|11,170
|-
|1960/61
|2,190
|''5,970''
|11,000
|2008/09
|2,520
|''5,850''
|9,180
|-
|1961/62
|1,910
|''5,227''
|8,210
|2009/10
|1,480
|''3,985''
|7,260
|-
|1962/63
|2,170
|''4,799''
|6,830
|2010/11
|1,510
|''3,690''
|5,790
|-
|1963/64
|1,810
|''4,647''
|8,500
|2011/12
|2,190
|''4,038''
|9,420
|-
|1964/65
|2,100
|''5,074''
|7,510
|2012/13
|960
|''3,931''
|7,270
|-
|1965/66
|2,150
|''5,500''
|9,470
|2013/14
|1,420
|''4,588''
|8,370
|-
|1966/67
|1,600
|''4,482''
|10,100
|2014/15
|1,090
|''3,890''
|6,930
|-
|1967/68
|1,823
|''4,451''
|7,557
|2015/16
|980
|''3,794''
|8,090
|-
|1968/69
|2,093
|''5,020''
|7,607
|2016/17
|1,510
|''3,846''
|6,490
|-
| colspan="9" |
|-
| colspan="9" |Source:<ref name="Global River Discharge Database">{{cite web|url=https://sage.nelson.wisc.edu/riverdata/keysearch.php?keyword=Ogoou%C3%A9&submit=Search|title=Global River Discharge Database}}</ref><ref name="The Ogooue River Gabon. Discharge reconstruction and evidence of equatorial climatic variations">{{cite report|title=The Ogooue River Gabon. Discharge reconstruction and evidence of equatorial climatic variations|last1=Gil|first1=Mahe|last2=J.|first2=Lerique|last3=Jean-Claude|first3=Olivry|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/285569599|date=1990|volume=5|page=105-124|publisher=ORSTOM}}</ref><ref name="Contrasted Chemical Weathering Rates in Cratonic Basins: The Ogooué and Mbei Rivers, Western Central Africa">{{cite journal|last1=Moquet |first1=Jean-Sébastien |last2=Bouchez |first2=Julien |last3=Braun |first3=Jean-Jacques |last4=Bogning |first4=Sakaros |last5=Mbonda |first5=Auguste Paulin |last6=Carretier |first6=Sébastien |last7=Regard |first7=Vincent |last8=Bricquet |first8=Jean-Pierre |last9=Paiz |first9=Marie-Claire |last10=Mambela |first10=Emmanuel |last11=Gaillardet |first11=Jérôme |journal= Frontiers in Water|doi=10.3389/frwa.2020.589070|date=2021 |title=  Contrasted Chemical Weathering Rates in Cratonic Basins: The Ogooué and Mbei Rivers, Western Central Africa|volume=2 |bibcode=2021FrWat...2.9070M |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name="Long-term Hydrological Variations of the Ogooue River Basin">{{cite journal|journal=Hydrology|doi=10.1002/essoar.10505633.1|title=Long-term Hydrological Variations of the Ogooue River Basin|date=2021|last1=Sakaros|first1=Bogning Dongue|last2=Frédéric|first2=Frappart|last3=Gil|first3=Mahe|last4=Fernando|first4=Niño|last5=Adrien|first5=Paris|last6=Joëlle|first6=Sihon|last7=Franck|first7=Ghomsi|last8=Fabien|first8=Blarel|last9=Jean-Pierre|first9=Bricquet|last10=Raphaël|first10=Onguéné|last11=Jacques|first11=Etame|last12=Frédérique|first12=Seyler|last13=Marie-Claire|first13=Paiz|last14=Jean-Jacques|first14=Braun|volume=105 |bibcode=2021esoar.10505633B |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/348219681|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref name="Modeling the Ogooué river discharge based on multi-missions altimetry data">{{cite conference|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/348187946|title=Modeling the Ogooué river discharge based on multi-missions altimetry data|date=2018|conference=AGU Chapman Conference on Hydrologic Research in the Congo Basin|publisher=CTOH|location=Washington DC, USA|last1=Sakaros|first1=Bogning Dougue|last2=Frédéric|first2=Frappart|last3=Adrien|first3=Paris|last4=Fabien|first4=Blarel|last5=Fernando|first5=Nino|last6=Frédérique|first6=Seyler|last7=Gil|first7=Mahe|last8=Raphaël|first8=Onguéné|last9=Jacques|first9=Etame|last10=Marie-Claire|first10=Paiz|last11=Jean-Jacques|first11=Braun}}</ref><ref name="Investigating links between rainfall variations in the Ogooué River basin and ENSO in the Pacific Ocean over the period 1940–1999">{{cite report|url=https://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl-doc/pleins_textes/2022-05/010084854.pdf|title=Investigating links between rainfall variations in the Ogooué River basin and ENSO in the Pacific Ocean over the period 1940–1999|last1=Sakaros|first1=Bogning|last2=Frédéric|first2=Frappart|last3=Gil|first3=Mahe|last4=Adrien|first4=Paris|last5=Raphaël|first5=Onguéné|last6=Fabien|first6=Blarel|last7=Fernando|first7=Niño|last8=Jacques|first8=Etame|last9=Jean-Jacques|first9=Braun|publisher=Copernicus, PIAHS|page=181-186|date=2021}}</ref>
|}

==Tributaries==
[[File:Ogooué.JPG|thumb|Ogooué River]]
[[File:Fan women and child, banks of the Ogoway.jpg|thumb|Fan women and child, banks of the Ogoway. From The earth and its inhabitants, Africa (published 1890-1893 [v.1, 1892] )]]

The Ogowe River receives water of numerous tributaries including:

* [[Abanga River|Abanga]], which rises in the [[Crystal Mountains National Park|Cristal Mountains]], near [[Medouneu]]
* [[Baniaka River|Baniaka]]
* [[Dilo River|Dilo]]
* [[Ivindo River|Iyinda]], the most important tributary
* [[Letili River|Letili]]
* [[Lassio River|Lassio]]
* [[Lebombi River|Lebombi]]
* [[Lekabi River|Lekabi]]
* [[Lekedi River|Lekedi]]
* [[Lekoni River|Lekoni]], which flows across [[Akieni]] and [[Lékoni, Gabon|Leconi]]
* [[Letili River|Letili]]
* [[Leyou River|Leyou]]
* [[Lolo River|Lolo]]
* [[Mbine River|Mbine]]
* [[Ngolo River|Ngolo]]
* [[Ngounie River|Ngounie]]
* [[Nke River|Nke]]
* [[Offoue River|Offoue]]
* [[Okano River|Okano]], whose main tributary is the [[Lara River]]
* [[Mpassa River|Mpassa]], which flows across [[Franceville]]
* [[Sebe River|Sebe]], which flows past [[Okondja]]
* [[Wagny River|Wagny]]
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="text-align:center;"
|+The main river and tributaries are (sorted in order from the mouth heading upstream):
 ! Left
tributary
 ! Right
tributary
 ! Length
(km)
 ! Basin size
(km²)
 ! Average discharge
(m<sup>3</sup>/s)
|-
| colspan="2" |''Ogooué''
|''1,200''
|''225,217.5''
|''5,148.05''
|-
| colspan="5" |'''Ogooué Delta'''
|-
|Kolo
| rowspan="2" |
|
|496.8
|13.33
|-
|Nkomi
|170
|5,816.6
|194.01
|-
|
|Akiri
|20
|248.1
|8.91
|-
| colspan="5" |'''Lower Ogooué'''
|-
|Olimbé
|
|
|1,352.9
|43.41
|-
| rowspan="4" |
|Lac Ompindi
|
|325.8
|12.28
|-
|Alooué
|
|552
|21.45
|-
|Mangoué
|
|992.5
|41.97
|-
|Oronga
|
|1,248.6
|44.86
|-
|Nkovié
| rowspan="4" |
|
|521.8
|17.6
|-
|Agouma
|
|1,983.3
|70.11
|-
|Lac Zilé
|
|322.4
|9.15
|-
|[[Ngounie River|Ngounié]]
|680
|32,636.7
|1,002.4
|-
|
|[[Mbine River|Biné]]
|
|752.6
|21.03 
|-
|M'boumi
|
|109
|1,606.4
|35.38
|-
| rowspan="2" |
|[[Abanga River|Abanga]]
|226
|8,204.4
|190.31
|-
|Missanga
|32
|476.5
|9.88
|-
| colspan="5" |'''Middle Ogooué'''
|-
|Lébé
|
|
|376.5
|7.01
|-
|
|[[Okano River|Okano]]
|280
|11,257.2
|192.91
|-
|Machoka
|
|
|559.8
|9.78
|-
|
|[[Ngolo River|Ngolo]]
|
|1,023.1
|14.62
|-
|Mingoué
| rowspan="4" |
|113
|1,178.9
|21.17
|-
|Leledi
|
|2,038.5
|33.23
|-
|Lope
|
|378.9
|5.07
|-
|[[Offoue River|Offoué]]
|235
|7,673.9
|166.63
|-
| rowspan="3" |
|[[Nke River|Nké]]
|
|1,883.8
|26.04
|-
|[[Ivindo River|Ivindo]]
|686
|63,201.4
|1,112.4
|-
|[[Dilo River|Dilo]]
|190
|3,166
|54.3
|-
|[[Lolo River|Lolo]]
|
|240
|11,212.7
|278.17
|-
|
|[[Lassio River|Lassio]]
|160
|5,413.3
|114.44
|-
| colspan="5" |'''Upper Ogooué'''
|-
|Lehibou
|
|
|410.4
|9.81
|-
| rowspan="3" |
|Momba
|
|643.1
|15.34
|-
|Ouolo
|
|640.7
|16.08
|-
|[[Sebe River|Sébé]]
|292
|10,069.7
|236.97
|-
|[[Leyou River|Leyou]]
|
|134
|1,771
|69.82
|-
| rowspan="2" |
|[[Lekoni River|Lékoni]]
|252
|7,592.8
|344.36
|-
|[[Lekabi River|Lékabi]]
|
|1,542.3
|46.67
|-
|[[Lekedi River|Lekedi]]
| rowspan="2" |
|48
|1,244.5
|34.63
|-
|[[Lebombi River|Lébombi]]
|91
|3,769.4
|106.89
|-
|
|[[Mpassa River|Mpassa]]
|163
|6,339.6
|312
|-
|[[Baniaka River|Baniaka]]
| rowspan="2" |
|
|749.9
|21.38
|-
|[[Letili River|Letili]]
|
|1,682.1
|43.46
|-
|
|Loua
|
|361.6
|11.03
|-
|Djoulou
| rowspan="3" |
|
|509.3
|12.71
|-
|Loungou
|
|481.4
|11.42
|-
|Léfou
|
|382.7
|8.88
|-
|
|Djouéli
|
|377.8
|12.19
|-
|Léouké
|
|
|1,006.9
|23.32
|-
|
|Nsiele
|
|364.7
|14.06
|-
| colspan="5" |Source:<ref name="Central West Coast">{{cite web|url=https://www.riversnetwork.org/V1/index.php/component/content/?view=article&id=192&catid=270&Itemid=179|title=Central West Coast|last=Eric|first=Tilman}}</ref><ref name="PROSPECTION HYDRO-ÉLECTRIQUE GÉNÉRALE DES BASSINS DE L'OGOOUÉ ET DE LA NYANGA">{{cite report|url=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/39891005.pdf|title=PROSPECTION HYDRO-ÉLECTRIQUE GÉNÉRALE DES BASSINS DE L'OGOOUÉ ET DE LA NYANGA|page=75|date=1966|publisher=ÉLECTRICITÉ DE FRANCE (EDF)}}</ref>
|}

==Ecology==
It mostly consists of undisturbed [[rainforest]] with some [[savanna|savanna grassland]] where the mid-year [[dry season]] is longest. It is home to a high biodiversity. All three species of African [[crocodile]], for instance, occur in the river: the [[Nile crocodile]], the [[dwarf crocodile]], and the [[slender-snouted crocodile]]. It is also the type locality for the catfish ''[[Synodontis acanthoperca]]''.<ref>{{FishBase |genus= Synodontis|species= acanthoperca| month = March| year = 2013}}</ref>

== Economy ==
The Ogooué is [[navigable]] from [[Ndjole]] to the [[Gulf of Guinea|sea]]. It is used to bring wood to the [[Port-Gentil|Port Gentil Harbour]].

The Ogowe Basin includes several major conservation reserves, including [[Lope National Park]].

The catchment area has an average population density of 4 people per km². Towns along the river include [[Ayem]], [[Adané]], ''Loanda'', [[Lambaréné]], [[Ndjole]], [[Booué]], [[Kankan]], [[Maulongo]], [[Mboungou-Mbadouma]], [[Ndoro]], [[Lastoursville]], [[Moanda, Gabon|Moanda]], and [[Franceville]] near the Congo border.

Towns in Congo include [[Zanaga]].

The first European [[List of explorers|explorer]] to trace the river to its source was [[Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza]], who traveled in the area in the 1870s.<ref name="readersnatural" /> <!--Persistent reports by the natives of creatures resembling [[dinosaur]]s have motivated a number of recent expeditions into the area of the northern tributaries of the Ogooué and the swamps on the western side of the [[Congo River]]. - Dubious. Commented out until source located.-->

== References ==

{{Reflist}}

* Perusset André. 1983. Oro-Hydrographie (Le Relief) in ''Geographie et Cartographie du Gabon, Atlas Illustré'' led by The Ministère de l'Education Nationale de la Republique Gabonaise. Pg 10-13. Paris, France: Edicef.
* Petringa, Maria. ''Brazza, A Life for Africa''. Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse, 2006. {{ISBN|9781-4259-11980}}.  Describes Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza's extensive explorations of the Ogoué River basin.
* [[National Geographic Society|National Geographic]]. 2003. ''African Adventure Atlas'' Pg 24,72. led by Sean Fraser.
* Gardinier David. 1994. ''Historical Dictionary of Gabon 2nd Edition''. USA: The Scarercrow Press, Inc.
* Direction General de L'Environnement.1999. ''Stratégie nationale et Plan D'action sur la biodiversité biologique du Gabon''.
* ''The Atlas of Africa''. Pg 201. by Regine Van Chi-Bonnardel. Jeune Afrique Editions.
* Lerique Jacques. 1983. Hydrographie-Hydrologie. in ''Geographie et Cartographie du Gabon, Atlas Illustré'' led by The Ministère de l'Education Nationale de la Republique Gabonaise. Pg 14-15. Paris, France: Edicef.

== External links ==
{{NSRW Poster|Ogowe}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20031110014559/http://earthtrends.wri.org/text/FRE/maps/301.htm World Resources Institute map of Ogooué watershed]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120813015647/http://www.waterandnature.org/en/resources/publications/thematic-collection/facts-figures/watersheds-world Map of the Ogoué River basin at Water Resources eAtlas]
* [https://archive.today/20121204181327/http://www.harvardmag.com/jf97/vita.html Maria Petringa's 1997 "Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza: Brief Life of a Lover of Africa" about Brazza's extensive explorations of the Ogoué River basin]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20031020230344/http://www.mokelembembe.com/ Website about the dinosaur hunt]

{{Rivers of Gabon}}
{{Authority control}}
{{coord|2|40|S|14|30|E|source:kolossus-svwiki|display=title}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ogooue River}}
[[Category:Ogooué River| ]]
[[Category:Rivers of Gabon]]
[[Category:Important Bird Areas of Gabon]]
[[Category:International rivers of Africa]]
[[Category:Rivers of the Republic of the Congo]]
[[Category:Ramsar sites in Gabon]]