Facts about the Congo: The popularity of the Congo is never in doubt; This world famous river has been featured frequently in many documentaries, publications and films. This speaks to its remarkable nature.
Much has been said and written about the river. Below are the ten most important facts about the Congo. We hope you will find them interesting:
Congo map
On the African map, the Congo is located on the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Congo Kinshasa. The two used to be a kingdom known as Congo. The Congo acts as a border between the countries and also has various tributaries starting in the different countries.
Congo River location
The Congo lies between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Congo-Kinshasa, but it has many tributaries including Lake Tanganyika, the East African Rift and Lake Mweru. It flows through Angola, Zambia, Burundi, Tanzania, Cameroon, Rwanda, the Central African Republic (CAR), the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Gabon.
Congo River Depth
The Congo stretches approximately 2,922 kmmiles (4703 kilometers) and its depth is just as impressive. In fact, it is the second longest river in Africa, but also the deepest. Although the Congo varies in depth from section to section, in some areas the depth exceeds 220 meters (720 feet).
The 10 most important facts about the Congo
Also see: 10 Fascinating Facts About the Zambezi River
1. Formerly Zaire River
The Congo was formerly known as the Zaire River. The name was predominant in the period between 1971 and 1997. The name change came into effect in 1997 when Zaire changed its name to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). After this change, the river was renamed after the country. Although it may be referred to by its former name, usage of this term is decreasing over time.
2. The largest river in Africa
The Congo takes the crown for being the largest river in Africa. The river is ranked as the second largest in the world, with the Amazon being the largest. The large amounts of water remain constant throughout the year. The large amount is attributed to the many tributaries feeding the main river. They come from different countries in the region.
3. Strongest river on the continent
One of the fascinating facts of the Congo is that the mighty river is not only the largest in Africa but also the most powerful on the continent and in the world. The huge mass of water creates many rapids and currents in several sections of the river. Statistics show that during peak performance, up to 50,000 cubic meters (1,800,000 cubic feet) of water can be released per second.
Also see: 10 lesser-known facts about the Horn of Africa
4. The deepest river in the world
The oddity of the Congo River seems to go on and on. It is also ranked as the deepest river in Africa and in the world. Although depths can vary from section to section, it is fairly deep in most sections. The depth extends beyond 220 meters in some areas.
5. Second longest river in Africa
The Congo occupies the second position in Africa in terms of length. It stretches approximately 2,922 miles (4703 kilometers). This also makes the river the ninth longest in the world. The massive river meanders through several states in East and Central Africa.
6. The most navigable on the continent
The Congo is among the top 10 best navigable rivers in the world. It is also the most navigable in Africa. The good sections that can be used by boats or ships are in the low tide and cataract sections. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) has the most navigable sections, which can cover approximately 9,000 miles.
Also see: 10 Fascinating Facts About the Nile
7. Serving the second largest rainforest in the world
When the river is mentioned, the Congo Forest also comes to mind. This is because the river flows through the tropical rainforest. The forest is the largest rainforest in Africa and the second largest in the world just behind the Amazon forest. The Congo Forest is famous for its diverse and robust flora and fauna.
8. Home to 40 hydroelectric power plants
Due to its large body of water, powerful rapids and waterfalls, the Congo offers good sites for the creation of hydroelectric power plants. In fact, there are currently 40 power plants on the river. The largest facility is the Inga Falls Dam. There are plans to increase the power plants at several locations.
9. Flows through 10 countries
The Congo is so massive and long that it flows through quite a number of countries. It also has various tributaries starting in different countries. The main sources are Lake Tanganyika, the East African Rift Valley and Lake Mweru. It flows through Angola, Zambia, Burundi, Tanzania, Cameroon, Rwanda, Central African Republic (CAR), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo and Gabon.
10. Border between two countries
The name Congo was named after the Kongo (Congo)kingdom that existed several decades ago. However, due to political disputes, the kingdom was split in two. the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) or Congo Kinshasa and the Republic of the Congo (Congo Brazzaville). The river acts as a border between the two countries.
The top 10 breakdown above is pendingFacts about the Congo confirm the power and effectiveness of the river. The great river plays an important role in the various countries through which it flows. The most important is probably hydroelectric power generation. Other important functions are agriculture, modes of transport, tourism and fisheries.