{{Short description|River in Fiji}} {{for|the river in Guyana|Rewa River (Guyana)}} {{Infobox river | name = Rewa river | name_native = | name_native_lang = | name_other = | name_etymology = <!---------------------- IMAGE & MAP --> | image = Rewaatnausori.jpg | image_size = 250 | image_caption = Aerial view of the Rewa River with Nausori town, the old and new Rewa Bridge visible. The town is the only urban centre in Fiji along its banks. | map = Rewa river one layer.svg | map_size = 250 | map_caption = Watershed of the Rewa River | pushpin_map = | pushpin_map_size = 250 | pushpin_map_caption= <!---------------------- LOCATION --> | subdivision_type1 = Countries | subdivision_name1 = {{hlist|Fiji}}{{flagicon|Fiji}} | subdivision_type2 = | subdivision_name2 = | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 = | subdivision_type5 = | subdivision_name5 = <!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS --> | length = • ''Rewa''–''Wainibuka'' {{cvt|172|km|mi|abbr=on}} • ''Rewa''–''Wainimala'' {{cvt|167|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref name="Rewa River">{{cite web|url=https://waterwaymap.org/river/Rewa%20River%20000636017723|title=Rewa River}}</ref><ref name="Longest river - The Fiji Times">{{cite web|url=https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/longest-river|title=Longest river - The Fiji Times}}</ref> | width_min = | width_avg = | width_max = {{cvt|400|m|abbr=on}}<ref name="Lower Rewa River and Delta ISRA - Important Shark Ray Areas">{{cite web|url=https://sharkrayareas.org/portfolio-item/lower-rewa-river-and-delta-isra|title=Lower Rewa River and Delta ISRA - Important Shark Ray Areas}}</ref> | depth_min = | depth_avg = | depth_max ={{cvt|15|m|abbr=on}}<ref name="Lower Rewa River and Delta ISRA - Important Shark Ray Areas"/> | discharge1_location=''Rewa Delta'' | discharge1_min = | discharge1_avg ={{cvt|7.9|km3/year|m3/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="Exploring the market potential for Fiji's Rewa River oysters">[ https://spccfpstore1.blob.core.windows.net/digitallibrary-docs/files/39/39fe75023f696996638fb2e7205f7d7c.pdf?sv=2015-12-11&sr=b&sig=LLKmtvHKHPlzuC78ZAqIVDWvlgQRD3I4MsyIaXQPs4s%3D&se=2026-04-07T01%3A51%3A30Z&sp=r&rscc=public%2C%20max-age%3D864000%2C%20max-stale%3D86400&rsct=application%2Fpdf&rscd=inline%3B%20filename%3D%22FishNews160_48_Kinch.pdf%22](PDF; 1,37&nbsp; MB)</ref> | discharge1_max = | discharge2_location=''Navolau'' | discharge2_min= {{cvt|33.3|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="Fiji">[https://www.pacificwater.org/_resources/article/files/Fiji.pdf](PDF; 1,89&nbsp; MB)</ref> | discharge2_avg=(1970–2010) {{cvt|187.7|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="Fiji"/> | discharge2_max= {{cvt|3,216.8|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="Fiji"/> | source1 =Confluence of Wainibuka and Wainimala | source1_location =''Nadrau Plateau'' | source1_coordinates= {{coord|17|49|21.9936|S|178|20|50.2332|E}} | source1_elevation = {{cvt|12|m|abbr=on}} | source2 =''Wainibuka'' | source2_location = | source2_coordinates={{coord|17|33|41.3028|S|177|59|36.654|E}} | source2_elevation ={{cvt|850|m|abbr=on}} | source3 =''Wainimala'' | source3_location = | source3_coordinates={{coord|17|43|26.6304|S|177|58|27.264|E}} | source3_elevation ={{cvt|1,000|m|abbr=on}} | mouth = ''Laucala Bay'' (Pacific Ocean) | mouth_location = | mouth_elevation = {{cvt|0|m|abbr=on}} | mouth_coordinates={{coord|18|8|52.6956|S|178|31|27.1524|E}} | progression = Pacific Ocean | river_system = Rewa River | basin_size = {{cvt|3,092.2|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}<ref name="FLOW CAPACITY OF RIVER CHANNEL">[https://openjicareport.jica.go.jp/pdf/11463486_03.pdf](PDF; 2,74&nbsp; MB)</ref> | tributaries_left = Wainibuka | tributaries_right = Wainimala, Waidina, Waimanu | custom_label = | custom_data = | extra = }} The '''Rewa River''' is the longest and widest river in Fiji. Located on the island of Viti Levu, the Rewa originates from the confluence of the ''Wainibuka'' and ''Wainimala'' rivers and flows southeast to ''Laucala Bay'' near Suva.<ref name="brit">''The New Encyclopædia Britannica'' Volume 10, Micropædia, 1988, pg.11 ([https://www.britannica.com/place/Rewa-River Britannica Online]) </ref>

==Course==

The Rewa River is a major river in the eastern part of the island of Viti Levu. It drains the wettest third of the island, making it the largest river in the South Pacific and Fiji.

The Rewa River is fed by two major headwaters, the ''Wainibuka'' and ''Wainimala'', and is joined by several other rivers of importance (''Waidina'', ''Waimanu'') before it reaches the sea by a delta of many mouths. It is navigable by small crafts up 80 kilometers from its mouth and its basin is enriched by a deep deposit of alluvial soil.<ref>[http://fijisun.com.fj/2015/01/14/the-rewa-delta-villages-need-help/ ''The Rewa Delta Villages Need Help''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705014056/https://fijisun.com.fj/2015/01/14/the-rewa-delta-villages-need-help/ |date=2022-07-05 }}. Fiji Sun, 2015-01-14</ref>

==Hydrology==

The headwaters of the Rewa originate at the Tomanivi (''Nadrau Plateau'') peak (1,324 m) at an altitude of 700 and 1,000 m above sea level. From there, the river meanders from north to south and flows into the Pacific Ocean with a delta covering an area of 240 square kilometers. Its total length from the source of ''Wainimala'' is 167 km and from the source of ''Wainibuka'' 172 km.<ref name="Rewa River"/><ref name="Longest river - The Fiji Times"/> Its catchment area receives about 3,932 mm of precipitation (according to the Köppen climate classification, this area falls into the Af type).<ref name="PROPOSAL FOR FIJI">[https://www.adaptation-fund.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/AFB.PPRC_.35.Inf_.19.-Proposal-for-Fiji.pdf](PDF; 1,06&nbsp; MB)</ref> Compared to its small catchment area (3,092 km²), its water discharge is relatively high (annual average 250 m³/s).<ref name="FLOW CAPACITY OF RIVER CHANNEL"/><ref name="Exploring the market potential for Fiji's Rewa River oysters"/><ref name="Fiji"/> Its floods are influenced by tropical cyclones. As a result, destructive flood waves can form on the river. The width of the river in its lower reaches 400 m and its depth 15 m.<ref name="Lower Rewa River and Delta ISRA - Important Shark Ray Areas"/>

==Ecology and economy==

The catchment area includes the tropical rainforests of Fiji. The river delta is covered by fertile, alluvial sediments, on which a diverse vegetation has developed (tropical trees, mangroves, peat bogs, seagrass meadows). The river also hosts the endangered bull shark (Carcharinas leucas) in its lower reaches.<ref name="Lower Rewa River and Delta ISRA - Important Shark Ray Areas"/>

The delta is home to several Fijian villages. Rice and vegetables are grown in the river valley. Cattle are also raised for dairy farming.<ref name="Rewa River–Fiji, Longest, & Map">{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Rewa-River|title=Rewa River–Fiji, Longest, & Map}}</ref>

About 80–100 kilometres of the river is navigable by small boats. In Nausori, a new 425 m long bridge has been built across the river alongside the existing old bridge with EU funding.<ref name="fletcher">{{cite web|title=Rewa Bridge|url=http://www.fletcherconstruction.co.nz/project.php?project_id=182|work=Fletcher Construction Website|publisher=Fletcher Construction|accessdate=24 November 2011|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724192706/http://www.fletcherconstruction.co.nz/project.php?project_id=182|archivedate=24 July 2011}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{Rivers of Fiji}} {{Authority control}}

{{Coord|18|08|S|178|32|E|display=title|region:FJ_type:river_source:GNS-enwiki}}

Category:Rivers of Viti Levu

{{Fiji-river-stub}}