Ouémé River

The Ouémé River, also known as the Weme River in Benin, is a river. It begins in the Atakora Mountains and runs for about 510 kilometers (320 miles). It flows through Carnotville and Ouémé before reaching a large delta on the Gulf of Guinea near the seaport city of Cotonou. The Okpara River and the Alpouro River are the two largest tributaries.

The Ouémé River is the Benin Republic's largest river. It is situated between 6° 30° and 10° north latitude, and between 0° 52' and 3° 05' east longitude (Oba S. Alain 2018). It passes through several agro-ecological zones before feeding the lagoon system "Lake Nokoué-lagoon of Porto-Novo'' through a Delta zone. The lower Delta of Ouémé is situated between latitudes 6° 33'N and 8° 15', as well as meridians 1° 50' and 2° 00'. (Zinsou et al., 2016). The lower Delta of Ouémé begins after the municipality of Adjohoun in the department of Ouémé and ends at the south facade, where the river flows into the "Nokoué-Porto-Novo'' lagoon complex (Lalèyè et al., 2004).

The subequatorial climate is distinguished by two rainy seasons and two dry seasons. However, its hydrological regime is influenced by the Sudanian climate (north-Benin), with a low water period lasting seven months (November to June) and a flood period lasting seven months (July to October) (Lalèyè, 1995). Swamps are inhabited by floating plants dominated by water hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes), water lily (Nymphaea lotus), water lettuce (Pistoia stratiotes), and lemna (Lemna pairciostata). There are also undeveloped marshy forests dominated by the Raphia palm (Raphia hookeri) and the oil palm (Raphia oleifera) (Elaeis guineensis). Water covers a large portion of the valley, which is very productive in terms of fish (Zinsou et al., 2016).

Length: 510 km (320 mi)