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How does the Sobat River affect the flow of the White Nile?
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Nile River
Sand dunes along the Nile River, Egypt.
The Sobat River significantly influences the White Nile in several ways:
- Volume Compensation: The flow of the Sobat into the main stream just upstream of Malakal helps compensate for the substantial water losses the Bahr al-Jabal experiences due to seepage and evaporation within the Al-Sudd region.1
- Water Source: The Sobat provides roughly half of the White Nile's water, with the other half originating from the East African Plateau.1
- Level Variations: The annual flood of the Sobat, driven by summer rains in Ethiopia, is largely responsible for the variations in the water level of the White Nile.21
- Sedimentation: During its flood stage (November–December), the Sobat carries a whitish sediment that gives the White Nile its name, although only a relatively small amount of this mud actually reaches the main river.21