Congo River

The Congo is a river in Western Africa. The Congo and its subsidiaries flow through the second largest rain forest area in the world, only the Amazon Rainforest being (much) larger. The Congo also gives its name to two countries in Africa:

• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Republic of the Congo

The sources of the Congo are in the highlands and mountains of the East Africa Rift, as well as Lake Tanganyika and Lake Mweru, which feed the Lualaba River, which then becomes the Congo below Stanley Falls.

The Congo flows generally west from Kisangani just below the falls, then gradually bends southwest, passing by Mbandaka, joining with the Ubangi River, and running into the Stanley Pool. Kinshasa and Brazzaville are on opposite sides of the river below the Pool, then the river narrows and falls through a number of cataracts in deep canyons, running by Matadi and Boma, and into the sea at the small town of Muanda.

Between the Pool and the Falls, the Congo is readily navigable, and a major thoroughfare through the forest. Henry Morton Stanley was the first European to navigate along the river's length and report on it.

Tributaries:

• Aruwimi River
• Itimbiri River
• Kwa River
  • Fimi River
  • Kasai River
    • Sankuru River
  • Kwango River
  • Kwilu River
• Lomami River
• Lualaba River
  • Lufira River
  • Luvua River
• Lulonga River
• Ruki River
  • Busira River
  • Momboyo River
• Sangha River
• Ubangi River
  • Bomu River
  • Uele River