View source for Shire River

{{Infobox river
| name               = Shire River
| name_native        =
| name_native_lang   =
| name_other         = Shiré, Chire
| name_etymology     = [[Chewa language|Chewa]] ''chiri'', "steep banks"<ref>{{Cite journal|url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/29778127|title=Shire, Shirwak and Nyasa |author=Price, T.|year=1966|journal=The Society of Malawi Journal|volume=19|issue=1|pages=15-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://historyofmalawi.com/?p=872|title=The Mighty Shire River – History Of Malawi}}</ref>
<!---------------------- IMAGE & MAP -->
| image              = Shire fluss nsanje.jpg
| image_size         =
| image_caption      = The Shire near [[Nsanje]], [[Malawi]]
| map                = Shire (rivière).png
| map_size           = 280px
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<!---------------------- LOCATION -->
| subdivision_type1  = Country
| subdivision_name1  = [[Malawi]], [[Mozambique]]
| subdivision_type2  =
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<!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS -->
| length             = {{convert|402|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| width_min          =
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| discharge1_min     =
| discharge1_avg     = 486 m3/s
| discharge1_max     =
<!---------------------- BASIN FEATURES -->
| source1            = [[Lake Malawi]]
| source1_location   =
| source1_coordinates= {{coord|14|25|25|S|35|14|10|E|display=inline}}
| source1_elevation  = {{convert|474|m|abbr=on}}
| mouth              = [[Zambezi]]
| mouth_location     =
| mouth_coordinates  = {{coord|17|41|36|S|35|18|55|E|display=inline,title}}
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}}
The '''Shire''' {{IPAc-en|'|sh|i:|r|ei}} is the largest river in [[Malawi]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://worldsenz.blogspot.com/2010/12/shire-river-malawi.html|title=The Ruins of the Moment: Shire River, Malawi — Photos by Pete McGregor|date=December 20, 2010}}</ref> It is the only outlet of [[Lake Malawi]] and flows into the [[Zambezi]] River in [[Mozambique]]. Its length is {{convert|402|km|mi}}. The upper Shire River issues from Lake Malawi and runs approximately {{convert|12|mi|km|order=flip|abbr=on}} before it enters shallow [[Lake Malombe]]. It then drains Lake Malombe and flows south through [[Liwonde National Park]] where large concentrations of hippopotamus are common along its shores. Between the towns of [[Matope]] and [[Chikwawa]], the middle river drops approximately {{convert|1300|ft|m|order=flip|abbr=on}} through a series of falls and gorges, including [[Kapachira Falls]]. Two hydroelectric dams have been built along the Shire northwest of [[Blantyre]].

Beyond [[Chikwawa]], the lower river turns southeast and enters the low-lying Mozambique plain.  Its largest and one of its few perennial tributaries, the [[Ruo River]], joins the Shire near the Malawian town of [[Chiromo]].  The muddy waters pass through a large stagnant area known as the [[Elephant Marsh]] before reaching the confluence with the [[Zambezi River]] south of the town of [[Sena, Mozambique]].

In 1859, [[David Livingstone]]'s [[Second Zambezi expedition]] traveled up the Shire river.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Briggs|first1=Philip|title=Malawi|date=2016|publisher=Bradt Travel Guides|isbn=9781784770143|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CQueDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA9|page=9|language=en}}</ref>

The river's valley is part of the [[East African Rift]] system.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://mappoint.msn.com/(rddmzdbprlpfsl5504qmz245)/map.aspx?C=0%2c0&A=100000&L=WLD0409 |title=Live Search Maps |access-date=2007-08-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071203211025/http://mappoint.msn.com/(rddmzdbprlpfsl5504qmz245)/map.aspx?C=0%2C0&A=100000&L=WLD0409 |archive-date=2007-12-03 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[File:Ferry over Shire River in Mozambique.JPG|thumb|left|250px|Ferry crossing the Shire in Mozambique]]
{{clear|left}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Rivers of Malawi}}
{{Rivers of Mozambique}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Shire River| ]]
[[Category:Rivers of Malawi]]
[[Category:Rivers of Mozambique]]
[[Category:Lake Malawi]]
[[Category:Tributaries of the Zambezi River]]
[[Category:International rivers of Africa]]
[[Category:Lowest points of countries]]


{{Malawi-river-stub}}
{{Mozambique-river-stub}}