The 8th largest river in the world, and the 2nd largest in Africa after the Nile, the Congo River is a river that counts on a continental scale. The river flows through 11 African countries: the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Zambia, Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda.

The river plays a major role in the economies of sub-Saharan African countries. It is plausibly the deepest river in the world. The river is out of the ordinary, and in this article we bring you 10 attractive facts about it.

1-The river links two African capitals:

The Congo River flows through many towns in central Africa, with around thirty cities on the list, including Kinshasa and Brazzaville, the capitals of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo respectively. The river is a source of fish, minerals, plants and sanitation, and a major asset for the region’s population. The river is the daily ally of its residents.

The list of towns crossed by the river: Mulongo and Mayumba on the Lualaba, Piana Mwanga on the Luvua, Ankoro, Kabalo, Kongolo, Kasongo, Kindu, Kasuku, Lowa, Ubundu, Kisangani, Yangambi, Bumba, Lisala, Mobeka, Lusengo, Bolombo, Lulonga, Mbandaka, Mossaka, Bolobo, Ngabé / Kwamouth, Kinshasa, Brazzaville, Matadi, Boma, Matadi, Porto-Rico, Kitona, Soyo.

2-The Congo is one of the most regular rivers in Africa and on the planet:

The average flow of the Congo River is 39,536 m3/s, and its course never drops by more than half its average value. The river is abundant and well supplied throughout the year. This regularity makes it one of the most powerful rivers on the planet.

3-The river is a source of hydroelectric power:

The river is a source of hydroelectric power: at Pool Malébo, it has hydroelectric dams that supply energy. In 2005, a project was launched to enlarge the dams in order to increase production volume. According to the designers, the project would have increased the facility’s maximum output to 40 GW, double that of China’s Three Gorges Dam.

4-The Congo River is visible from space:

The Congo River has a basin of 3,680,000 km2 , measures 4,700 km and flows into the Atlantic Ocean at Moanda and Soyo. Its size makes it one of the largest rivers on the planet, and it can be seen from space.

Image above taken by NASA.

5-The river has 2 waterfall sites:

The Congo River is the 8th largest river in the world, a colossal river with 2 waterfalls in its bed:
– Stanley or Boyoma Falls, 7 cataracts stretching 100 km from Lualaba, Ubundu to Kisangani.
– Livingstone Falls, 32 falls and cataracts, stretching 354 km from Kinshasa to Matadi.

6-The Congo River has changed name 5 times:

First called “Rio do Padrão” river of pillar, then “Nzadi” the river, then Zaïre, then Barbila, it’s the name Congo that will ultimately remain the river’s name.

7-The Congo River is navigable:

Although not widely known, the Congo River is navigable in sections. It is navigable on 2495 km between Kinshasa and Kisangani. The other sections, away from Livingstone Falls and Stanley Falls, are also sometimes navigated by tourists.

8-The river is a Portuguese discovery:

The Congo is known to have belonged to Belgium and France during the colonial era. Yet it was a Portuguese who was the first Westerner to explore the banks of the Congo River. Diogo Cao, an explorer under the reign of Jean II, King of Portugal, was born in Vila Real in 1452 and died in 1485. He was the son of a soldier, and acted on behalf of the infant Henry the Navigator, Henrique o Navegador, son of Jean I.

9-Kinshasa and Brazzaville share the banks of the Congo River:

As the respective capitals of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo, Kinshasa and Brazzaville share the same banks of the Congo River. Facing each other on the banks of the Malebo Pool, this geographical proximity makes the two capitals the closest capitals in the world.

10-The Congo River boasts unique fauna:

The Congo River is a remarkable river with submerged canyons at depths of over 220m, and is home to some of the world’s most unique fauna. The river’s basin contains rare materials such as gold, tantalum, cobalt and the famous “diamonds of the century”. Both on the surface and at depth, the Congo River is the source of plant life, creating a unique and ever-changing biotope.