| Congo River Mto Kongo Zaire River Fleuve Zaïre Rio Zaire | |
|---|---|
 | |
 The drainage basin of the Congo River | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Boyoma Falls |
| • location | Kisangani |
| • coordinates | 0°29′33.7776″N 25°12′24.8688″E / 0.492716000°N 25.206908000°E |
| • elevation | 373 m (1,224 ft) |
| 2nd source | Lualaba |
| • location | Katanga Plateau |
| • coordinates | 11°45′52.6212″S 26°30′10.062″E / 11.764617000°S 26.50279500°E |
| • elevation | 1,420 m (4,660 ft) |
| 3rd source | Chambeshi |
| • coordinates | 9°6′22.824″S 31°18′20.898″E / 9.10634000°S 31.30580500°E |
| • elevation | 1,760 m (5,770 ft) |
| Mouth | Atlantic Ocean |
• coordinates | 06°04′30″S 12°27′00″E / 6.07500°S 12.45000°E |
• elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Length | Congo–Lualaba–Luvua–Luapula–Chambeshi 4,700 km (2,900 mi); Congo–Lualaba 4,374 km (2,718 mi)[1] |
| Basin size | 4,014,500 km2 (1,550,000 sq mi)[2] |
| Width | |
| • minimum | 200 m (660 ft) (Lower Congo); 1,440 m (4,720 ft) (Middle Congo)[3][4][5] |
| • maximum | 19,000 m (62,000 ft) (mouth) |
| Depth | |
| • average | 12 to 75 m (39 to 246 ft) (Lower Congo); 5 to 22 m (16 to 72 ft) (Middle Congo)[3][4][5] |
| • maximum | 220 m (720 ft) (Lower Congo); 50 m (160 ft) (Middle Congo)[3][4][5] |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Banana (near mouth) |
| • average | 41,400 m3/s (1,310 km3/a)[6][2] |
| • minimum | 23,000 m3/s (810,000 cu ft/s)[2] |
| • maximum | 75,000 m3/s (2,600,000 cu ft/s)[2] |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Kinshasa, Brazzaville |
| • average | (Period: 1902–2019)40,500 m3/s (1,430,000 cu ft/s)[8][7] |
| • minimum | 22,000 m3/s (780,000 cu ft/s) (1905)[7] |
| • maximum | 77,000 m3/s (2,700,000 cu ft/s) (1961)[7] |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Kisangani |
| • average | (Period: 1951–2012)7,640 m3/s (270,000 cu ft/s)[8][7] |
| • minimum | 3,240 m3/s (114,000 cu ft/s)[9] |
| • maximum | 13,930 m3/s (492,000 cu ft/s)[9] |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Kindu |
| • average | 2,213 m3/s (78,200 cu ft/s)[9] |
| • minimum | 640 m3/s (23,000 cu ft/s)[9] |
| • maximum | 7,640 m3/s (270,000 cu ft/s)[9] |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Bukama |
| • average | 322 m3/s (11,400 cu ft/s)[9] |
| • minimum | 52 m3/s (1,800 cu ft/s)[9] |
| • maximum | 1,229 m3/s (43,400 cu ft/s)[9] |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Atlantic Ocean |
| River system | Congo River |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Lubudi, Lovoi, Luvidjo, Kasuku, Lomami, Lulonga, Ikelemba, Ruki, Irebu, Kasai, Lufimi, Inkisi |
| • right | Lufira, Luvua, Lukuga, Luama, Elila, Ulindi, Lowa, Maiko, Lindi, Aruwimi, Itimbiri, Mongala, Ubangi, Sangha, Likouala, Alima, Nkeni, Léfini, Djoué |
 | |
The Congo River,[a] formerly also known as the Zaire River, is the second-longest river in Africa, shorter only than the Nile, as well as the third-largest river in the world by discharge volume, following the Amazon and Ganges rivers. It is the world's deepest recorded river, with measured depths of around 220 m (720 ft).[10] The Congo–Lualaba–Luvua–Luapula–Chambeshi River system has an overall length of 4,700 km (2,900 mi), which makes it the world's ninth-longest river. The Chambeshi is a tributary of the Lualaba River, and Lualaba is the name of the Congo River upstream of Boyoma Falls, extending for 1,800 km (1,100 mi).
Measured along with the Lualaba, the main tributary, the Congo River has a total length of 4,370 km (2,720 mi). It is the only major river to cross the Equator twice.[11] The Congo Basin has a total area of about 4,000,000 km2 (1,500,000 sq mi), or 13% of the entire African landmass.
- ^ Ian James, Harrison; Randall E., Brummett; Melanie L. J., Stiassny (2016). "Congo River Basin". The Wetland Book: 1-18. doi:10.1007/978-94-007-6173-5_92-2. ISBN 978-94-007-6173-5.
- ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference
bosschewas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference
Discharge and Other Hydraulic Measurements for Characterizing the Hydraulics of Lower Congo Riverwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference
Velocity Mapping in the Lower Congo River: A First Look at the Unique Bathymetry and Hydrodynamics of Bulu Reach, West Central Africawas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference
Multi-threaded Congo River channel hydraulics: Field-based characterisation and representation in hydrodynamic modelswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Aiguo, Dai; Kevin, E. Trenberth (2002). "Estimates of Freshwater Discharge from Continents: Latitudinal and Seasonal Variations". Journal of Hydrometeorology. 3 (6): 660–687. Bibcode:2002JHyMe...3..660D. doi:10.1175/1525-7541(2002)003<0660:EOFDFC>2.0.CO;2.
- ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference
A New Look at Hydrology in the Congo Basin, Based on the Study of Multi-Decadal Time serieswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
Recent Budget of Hydroclimatology and Hydrosedimentology of the Congo River in Central Africawas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b c d e f g h Cite error: The named reference
The Congo River, Central Africawas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Oberg, Kevin (July 2008). "Discharge and Other Hydraulic Measurements for Characterizing the Hydraulics of Lower Congo River, July 2008" (PDF). U.S. Geological Survey. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2011-10-15. Retrieved 2012-03-14.
- ^ Forbath 1979, p. 6. "Not until it crosses the Equator will it at last turn away from this misleading course and, describing a remarkable counter-clockwise arc first to the west and then to the southwest, flow back across the Equator and on down to the Atlantic.
In this the Congo is exceptional. No other major river in the world crosses the Equator even once, let alone twice."
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