Chari
Map showing the Chari River drainage basin.
Location
Countries	Central African Republic, Chad, Cameroon
Physical characteristics
Source	Bamingui
• location	Mbolo, Central African Republic
• coordinates	7°22′55″N 20°57′47″E / 7.382°N 20.963°E / 7.382; 20.963
• elevation	549 m (1,801 ft)
2nd source	Gribingui
• location	Mbrès, Central African Republic
• coordinates	6°40′23″N 19°49′55″E / 6.673°N 19.832°E / 6.673; 19.832
• elevation	631 m (2,070 ft)
Mouth	Lake Chad
• location	Kinziyakeu, Cameroon
• coordinates	12°58′41″N 14°30′43″E / 12.978°N 14.512°E / 12.978; 14.512
• elevation	281 m (922 ft)
Length	1,400 km (870 mi)
Basin size	548,747 km2 (211,872 sq mi)
Discharge
• location	N'djamena
• average	1059 m3/s[1]
• minimum	8 m3/s[1]
• maximum	4846 m3/s[1]
Basin features
Tributaries
• left	Logone River

The Chari River, or Shari River, is a 1,400 kilometres (870 mi) long river, flowing in Central Africa. It is Lake Chad's main source of water.^[2]

Geography

The Chari River flows from the Central African Republic through Chad into Lake Chad, following the Cameroon border from N'Djamena, where it is joined by its western and principal tributary, the Logone River.

It provides 90 percent of the water flowing into Lake Chad. The watershed of the river covers 548,747 square kilometres (211,872 sq mi). The principal tributary is the Logone River, while minor tributaries include the Bahr Salamat, the Bahr Sah), the Bahr Aouk and the Bahr Kéita.

Much of Chad's population, including Sarh and the capital N'Djamena, is concentrated around it.

As of 2016, Chad remains one of four countries where Guinea worm disease remains endemic. The majority of remaining cases are concentrated around the Chari River.

The river supports an important local fishing industry. One of the most highly prized local fish is the Nile perch.

Since the 1960s, there have been proposals to divert water from the Ubangi River to the Chari to revitalize Lake Chad, which would constitute a reversal of the capture of the upper Ubangi from the Chari by the Congo that is believed to have occurred in the early Pleistocene.^[3]

History

The Sao people are said to have lived by this river.^[4]

The Chari River basin has been populated by diverse speakers of the Chadic languages, Adamawa languages, Ubangian languages, Bongo-Bagirmi languages.