The river kbir : habitat diversity in the catchment of the largest Maltese river

Abstract

The 'River Kbir' is a new concept. When only farmers were interested in rivers and their valleys (except for crossing them), and farmers did not go far, each section of valley was given its own name-Wied Costa, Wied Hanzir, Wied il-Kbir. Each was the name the locals used. Where the streams came from, where they went, that was of little or no concern. The same occurred in other countries. It is, after all, the logical way-unless there is a good reason (such as long-distance transport) for many people to want a name for the whole river. The Ordnance Survey was such a reason, standing no nonsense about unnecessary names in Britain. But, in Malta, local wishes were respected, and the Ordnance Survey left these numerous names. This had the unfortunate result that the majority of Maltese still know only their own portions, and do not realize the valleys, river beds (and, a few decades ago, river flow) were actually connected. The valleys keep their traditional names, but the river names are simplified. The whole river is R. Kbir, and this name applies more strictly to the lower part. Then there are four main tributaries composing this river,· from north to south, R. Isqof, R. Luq (with its R. Ghirgenti and R. Ghajn tributaries), R. Xkora (with its Fawarra tributary and its main source, R. Zikku) and R. Costa .