Caprivi Strip

Caprivi Strip
Map of the Caprivi
Caprivi Strip Location within Africa
Country	Namibia
Region	Zambezi
Rivers	Zambezi, Okavango, Cuando
Area
• Total	19,531 km2 (7,541 sq mi)
Population  (2023)
• Total	142,373

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The Caprivi Strip, also known simply as Caprivi, is a geographic salient protruding from the northeastern corner of Namibia. It is bordered by Botswana to the south and Angola and Zambia to the north. Namibia, Botswana and Zambia meet at a single point at the eastern tip of the Strip, which also comes within 150 m (490 ft) of Zimbabwe, thus nearly forming a quadripoint. Instead, Botswana and Zambia share a 150-metre (490 ft) border that intersects a bridge at the crossing of Kazungula.

The territory was acquired in 1890 by German South West Africa in order to provide access to the Zambezi River and consequently a route to the east coast of the continent and German East Africa. The route was later found not to be navigable because of the location of the Victoria Falls, one of the world's largest waterfalls, about 65 kilometres (40 miles) east of the Caprivi Strip, and because of more waterfalls downstream such as Kariba Gorge and Cahora Bassa.

Within Namibia, the Strip is divided administratively between the Kavango East and Zambezi regions. It is crossed by the Okavango River. The Cuando River forms part of its border with Botswana, and the Zambezi River forms part of its border with Zambia. The width of the strip varies from about 32 km (20 mi) to 105 km (65 mi). Its largest settlement is Katima Mulilo, located at the point where the Zambezi reaches the Strip.