Betsiboka River
title: "Betsiboka River" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["rivers-of-madagascar", "mozambique-channel"] topic_path: "general/rivers-of-madagascar" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betsiboka_River" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox river"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Betsiboka River |
| image | Betsiboka.jpg |
| image_caption | Rapids in the Betsiboka River |
| map | Madagascar rivers.svg |
| map_caption | Map of Malagasy rivers (Betsiboka flows from the center to the northwestern coast). |
| subdivision_type1 | Country |
| subdivision_name1 | Madagascar |
| subdivision_type3 | Region |
| subdivision_name3 | Boeny |
| subdivision_type5 | City |
| subdivision_name5 | Mahajanga, Ambato-Boeny |
| length | 525 km to 605 km |
| discharge1_location | Betsiboka Delta |
| discharge1_min | 400 m3/s |
| discharge1_avg | (Period: 1971–2000)1,407.1 m3/s |
| discharge1_max | 4,500 m3/s |
| source1_location | Confluence of Jabo and Amparihibe |
| source1_coordinates | |
| source1_elevation | 939 m |
| mouth_location | Bombetoka Bay, Mozambique Channel |
| mouth_coordinates | |
| mouth_elevation | 0 m |
| river_system | Betsiboka River |
| basin_size | 49,000 km2 |
| tributaries_left | Jano, Ikopa, Iabohazo |
| tributaries_right | Amparihibe, Saharanotra, Mananara, Mananta, Isinko, Kamoro |
| :: |
| name = Betsiboka River | native_name = | native_name_lang = | name_other = | name_etymology = | image = Betsiboka.jpg | image_size = | image_caption = Rapids in the Betsiboka River | map = Madagascar rivers.svg | map_size = | map_caption = Map of Malagasy rivers (Betsiboka flows from the center to the northwestern coast). | pushpin_map = | pushpin_map_size = | pushpin_map_caption= | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = Madagascar | subdivision_type2 = | subdivision_name2 = | subdivision_type3 = Region | subdivision_name3 = Boeny | subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 = | subdivision_type5 = City | subdivision_name5 = Mahajanga, Ambato-Boeny | length = 525 km to 605 km | width_min = | width_avg = | width_max = | depth_min = | depth_avg = | depth_max = | discharge1_location= Betsiboka Delta | discharge1_min = 400 m3/s | discharge1_avg = (Period: 1971–2000)1,407.1 m3/s | discharge1_max = 4,500 m3/s | source1 = | source1_location = Confluence of Jabo and Amparihibe | source1_coordinates= | source1_elevation = 939 m | mouth = | mouth_location = Bombetoka Bay, Mozambique Channel | mouth_coordinates = | mouth_elevation =0 m | progression = | river_system = Betsiboka River | basin_size = 49,000 km2 | tributaries_left = Jano, Ikopa, Iabohazo | tributaries_right = Amparihibe, Saharanotra, Mananara, Mananta, Isinko, Kamoro | custom_label = | custom_data = | extra =
Betsiboka River is a 525 km long river in central-north Madagascar. It flows northwestward and empties to Bombetoka Bay, forming a large delta. It originates to the east of Antananarivo. The river is surrounded in mangroves. The river is distinctive for its red-coloured water, which is caused by river sediments. The river carries an enormous amount of reddish-orange silt to the sea. Much of this silt is deposited at the mouth of the river or in the bay.
It is dramatic evidence of the catastrophic erosion of northwestern Madagascar. Removal of the native forest for cultivation and pastureland during the past 50 years has led to massive annual soil losses approaching 250 metric tonnes per hectare (112 tons per acre) in some regions of the island, the largest amount recorded anywhere in the world. Several fish species are endemic to the river basin, including the three cichlids Paretroplus petiti, P. tsimoly and P. maculatus.
The Betsiboka's largest tributary, the Ikopa River, drains the capital city of Antananarivo.
File:Betsiboka estuary.jpg|Betsiboka River estuary seen from space File:Betsiboka River September 22, 2003.jpg|The Betsiboka River in normal conditions File:Betsiboka River January 30, 2009.jpg|The Betsiboka River when flooded
References
References
- (2010). "Environmental monitoring of Bombetoka Bay and the Betsiboka Estuary, Madagascar, using multi-temporal satellite data". Journal of Earth Science.
- "Madagascar".
- Bradt, Hilary. (17 May 2011). "Madagascar: The Bradt Travel Guide". Bradt Travel Guides.
- Tsilavo Raharimahefa and Timothy M. Kusky. (2010). "Environmental monitoring of Bombetoka bay and the Betsiboka estuary, Madagascar, using multi-temporal satellite data".
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