Congo River Mto Kongo Zaire River Fleuve Zaïre Rio Zaire | |
---|---|
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 | Atlantic Ocean (near mouth) |
• average | 41,200 m3/s (1,450,000 cu ft/s)[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 (498 km upstream of mouth; Basin size: 3,659,900 km2 (1,413,100 sq mi) |
• average | (Period: 1902–2019)40,500 m3/s (1,430,000 cu ft/s)[7][6] |
• minimum | 22,000 m3/s (780,000 cu ft/s) (1905)[6] |
• maximum | 77,000 m3/s (2,700,000 cu ft/s) (1961)[6] |
Discharge | |
• location | Kisangani (2,240 km upstream of mouth; Basin size: 974,330 km2 (376,190 sq mi) |
• average | (Period: 1951–2012)7,640 m3/s (270,000 cu ft/s)[7][6] |
• minimum | 3,240 m3/s (114,000 cu ft/s)[8] |
• maximum | 13,930 m3/s (492,000 cu ft/s)[8] |
Discharge | |
• location | Kindu (2,705 km upstream of mouth; Basin size: 810,440 km2 (312,910 sq mi) |
• average | 2,213 m3/s (78,200 cu ft/s)[8] |
• minimum | 640 m3/s (23,000 cu ft/s)[8] |
• maximum | 7,640 m3/s (270,000 cu ft/s)[8] |
Discharge | |
• location | Bukama (3,695 km upstream of mouth; Basin size: 63,090 km2 (24,360 sq mi) |
• average | 322 m3/s (11,400 cu ft/s)[8] |
• minimum | 52 m3/s (1,800 cu ft/s)[8] |
• maximum | 1,229 m3/s (43,400 cu ft/s)[8] |
Basin features | |
River system | Congo River |
Tributaries | |
• left | Lubudi, Lomami, Lulonga, Ikelemba, Ruki, Kasai, Inkisi |
• right | Lufira, Luvua, Lukuga, Luama, Elila, Ulindi, Lowa, Maiko, Lindi, Aruwimi, Itimbiri, Mongala, Ubangi, Sangha, Likouala, Alima, Léfini |
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).[9] 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.[10] 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.
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was invoked but never defined (see the help page).Discharge and Other Hydraulic Measurements for Characterizing the Hydraulics of Lower Congo River
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).Velocity Mapping in the Lower Congo River: A First Look at the Unique Bathymetry and Hydrodynamics of Bulu Reach, West Central Africa
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).Multi-threaded Congo River channel hydraulics: Field-based characterisation and representation in hydrodynamic models
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).A New Look at Hydrology in the Congo Basin, Based on the Study of Multi-Decadal Time series
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).Recent Budget of Hydroclimatology and Hydrosedimentology of the Congo River in Central Africa
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).The Congo River, Central Africa
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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