The world has some truly remarkable rivers, from the Amazon in South America to the Nile in Africa.
While the Nile is the longest and probably the most famous river in Africa, it is certainly not the deepest.
This is because the Congo River is the deepest in the world, reaching depths of up to 721ft (220 metres) – almost deep enough to submerge London’s Shard.
Stretching for 2,900 miles (4,700 km), it’s Africa’s second-longest river, after the Nile, and flows through seven countries: the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, Zambia, Angola, Cameroon, and Tanzania.
Originating in northeastern Zambia, the river forms a massive arc before flowing into the Atlantic Ocean at Banana in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Congo’s drainage basin is also enormous, covering 3.4 million square kilometres – almost the size of India – and it carries a staggering 41,000 cubic metres of water per second into the ocean, second only to the Amazon.
But navigating this powerful river isn’t easy. The Congo’s lower course has 32 cataracts and dangerous rapids, including the famous Inga Falls, making river sections impassable.
Historically known as the Zaire River, its name is derived from local African words meaning “river.”
The Congo River was crucial to early European exploration in the late 15th century and inspired literary works like Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness.
Today, it plays a big role in Africa’s economy and culture, providing millions of people with transportation, fishing, and hydroelectric power.
The river’s course is divided into three sections – the upper, middle, and lower Congo.
The Malebo Pool, a wide, calm expanse of water, separates the middle from the lower Congo.
Two major capital cities—Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Brazzaville in the Republic of the Congo—are on its banks, making them the world’s closest capital cities after Vatican City and Rome.
