The Zambezi is the fourth-longest river in Africa, flowing 2,574 kilometers from its source in Zambia to the Indian Ocean in Mozambique. It is most famous for being the home of Victoria Falls, one of the world's largest and most spectacular waterfalls, known locally as 'Mosi-oa-Tunya' (The Smoke That Thunders). The river is vital for the economies of Southern Africa, as it hosts two massive hydroelectric dams: the Kariba and the Cahora Bassa, which provide electricity to several nations. The Zambezi is also a haven for wildlife, with its floodplains supporting large populations of hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and over 450 species of birds. Unique to the river is the Zambezi shark, also known as the bull shark, which is capable of swimming hundreds of miles inland from the ocean into the river’s freshwater reaches.