crossriver

Crossriver, also called Cross River, is a major river in West Africa that flows through southeastern Cameroon and southern Nigeria. It originates in the highlands of southern Cameroon, travels west into Nigeria, forms part of the Cameroon–Nigeria border for a stretch, and ultimately empties into the Gulf of Guinea at the Nigerian coast near Calabar. The estuary supports mangroves and a chain of towns along the river, with Calabar as a principal port city.

The river basin is noted for its high biodiversity and endemism. The Cross River region is home to the endangered Cross River gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli) and a wide array of plant and animal species found nowhere else in Africa. Protected areas in the watershed include Nigeria's Cross River National Park and Cameroon's Takamanda National Park, which together form a transboundary forest block.

Local communities rely on the river for freshwater, fishing, agriculture, and transportation. The river's lower reaches have historically been important for trade and transport, and the Bakassi Peninsula near the mouth has been the subject of international border discussions between Nigeria and Cameroon.

Pressure from logging, mining, agriculture, and pollution threatens riverine habitats and water quality. Conservation efforts emphasize cross-border cooperation and habitat preservation, including the twin national parks and related community initiatives.