Great Scarcies River

The Great Scarcies River, also known as the Kolenté River, is a river in western Africa that rises 25 miles (40 kilometers) north of Kindia in western Guinea's Fouta Djallon highlands. Great Scarcies River traces the Guinea–Sierra Leone border for 63 miles (101 kilometers) before entering Sierra Leone to complete its 160-mile (257-kilometer) journey to the Atlantic Ocean.

Its lower reaches (in Sierra Leone) flow through a heavily inhabited mangrove swamp area that the Temne people have cleared considerably for rice cultivation. The swamp rice is collected in three cities along the river: Kambia (30 miles [48 km] downstream at the head of navigation), Rokupr (site of the West African Rice Research Station), and Mambolo (site of a government rice mill).

In the mid-1970s, the People's Republic of China funded two bridges at Kambia and Mange to replace ferries that crossed the Great and Little Scarcies rivers. Near the river mouth, fishing and salt preparation are key activities. The scenery of the riverbank is lined with green trees and the vast space makes visitors always feel at peace when traveling along the river. It is considered one of the longest Rivers in Sierra Leone.

Length: 101 km