# Boteti River
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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boteti_River
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{{Short description|Natural watercourse in Botswana}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2026}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox river
| name = Boteti River
| native_name =
| name_other = Botletle, Botletli
| name_etymology =
| image = Boteti River, Botswana.jpg
| image_size =
| image_caption = The Boteti River
| map =
| map_size =
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| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = [Botswana](/source/Botswana)
| subdivision_type2 =
| subdivision_name2 =
| subdivision_type3 = Region
| subdivision_name3 = [Okavango Delta](/source/Okavango_Delta)
| subdivision_type4 =
| subdivision_name4 =
| subdivision_type5 =
| subdivision_name5 =
| length_km = 1700
| width_min =
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| source1 =
| source1_location =
| source1_coordinates=
| source1_elevation =
| mouth = [Sua Pan](/source/Sua_Pan)
| mouth_location = [Botswana](/source/Botswana)
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}}
The '''Boteti River''' (also spelt as '''Botletle'''[Helgren, David M. (1984) "Historical Geomorphology and Geoarchaeology in the Southwestern Makgadikgadi Basin, Botswana" ''Annals of the Association of American Geographers'' 74(2): pp. 298–307, page 298][[http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ams/africa/txu-oclc-6589746-sheet34-5th-ed.jpg Johannesburg Sheet 34, Edition 5, TPC, 1970], Series 2201, U.S. Army Map Service] or '''Botletli''')[{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/okavango.pdf|title=Profile. Okavango|website=UN}}] is a natural [watercourse](/source/watercourse) in [Botswana](/source/Botswana) of 1700{{nbsp}}km in length. It derives flow from the core [Okavango Delta](/source/Okavango_Delta) through the [Thamalakane River](/source/Thamalakane_River) in [Maun](/source/Maun%2C_Botswana).
==Hydrology==
In the rainy season, the Boteti discharges to the [Makgadikgadi Pans](/source/Makgadikgadi_Pans),[Hogan, C. Michael (2008) [http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=22373&mode=&order=0 "Makgadikgadi"] at Burnham, A. (editor) ''The Megalithic Portal''] In the dry season, the Boteti is particularly important to provide wildlife an area to congregate, since most seasonal ponds and drainages are then devoid of water.[{{Cite book |last=Murphy |first=Alan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AijmBeQ9_r8C&pg=PA100 |title=Lonely Planet Southern Africa |last2=Armstrong |first2=Kate |last3=Firestone |first3=Matthew D. |last4=Fitzpatrick |first4=Mary |date=2007 |publisher=Lonely Planet Publications |isbn=978-1-74059-745-6 |page=100 |language=en}}]
The Boteti flows southeastward[[https://www.britannica.com/place/Boteti-River Boteti River] (n.d.). In ''Encyclopædia Britannica online''. Retrieved 28 January 2019] out of the [Thamalakane River](/source/Thamalakane_River) swamp at [Toteng](/source/Toteng), then flows northeastward past Tlkaseoulo, over Ghautsa Falls, and then flows east past the villages of [Makalamabedi](/source/Makalamabedi),[[http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ams/africa/txu-oclc-6589746-sheet33-4th-ed.jpg Windhoek Sheet 33, Edition 4, TPC, 1969], Series 2201, U.S. Army Map Service] Muekekle, and [Matima](/source/Matima), and then at [Kwaraga](/source/Kwaraga), it turns south past the villages of Phukumakaku, Khumaga (Lekono), Sukwane, Rakops (Jakops), and Xhuma (Khomo).[Breyer, J. I. E. (1983) "Soils in the Lower Boteti Region, Central District, Botswana" National Institute for Development Research and Documentation, University of Botswana, Gaborone, page 32, {{OCLC|12600164}}] The diversion of the river has left many residents without an adequate source of [fresh water](/source/fresh_water); moreover, they could no longer enjoy fishing and other activities in the river.
==History==
In the early and mid-20th century, the lower Boteti, below Sukwane, was a major grain-producing area, with over 2,000{{nbsp}}ha under cultivation until 1980. However, the number and extent of wet years has declined, and the river was channelised below [Rakops](/source/Rakops) to increase flow to the Mopipi Dam.[{{Cite book |last=Scudder |first=T. |title=The IUCN review of the Southern Okavango Integrated Water Development Project |date=1993 |publisher=International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) |isbn=978-2-8317-0114-1 |series=The IUCN Wetlands Programme |location=Gland, Switzerland |page=90}}] It flowed year-round before the mid-1990s,