Zambe'zi, a river of southern Africa, which rises in the eastern part of Angola, where it is formed by the union of several smaller streams, generally known as the Seven Springs. It flows southward, eastward, northeastward and then southeastward, finally entering the Mozambique Channel through a number of delta arms. For a portion of its course it forms the boundary between Rhodesia and German Southwest Africa. Its upper course is through an expanse of country clothed with grass and forest, and just after entering Rhodesia it plunges over a precipice nearly 400 feet high, forming the celebrated Victoria Falls (See VICTORIA FALLS). Below the falls the river has a winding course of about 80 miles through a deep canyon, with almost perpendicular banks, whence it reaches open country. Its entire length is about 1650 miles. It is navigable for large steamers to the first series of rapids, 400 miles from the sea. Above this point another section is navigable to Zumbo, on the western border of Portuguese East Africa. Several lines of steamers ply regularly upon the river, and the Cape-to-Cairo railway crosses it on a magnificent steel bridge erected just below Victoria Falls. The Zambezi is the fourth river of Africa in size and, together with its tributaries, exceeds 4000 miles in length. It was discovered by Livingstone in 1854.