What is Congo and where is it? Congo: Republic and river. Congo - River in the Heart of Africa Congo flows into the Atlantic Ocean

The continent "without cold", as the ancient Greeks called Africa, ranks second in size after Eurasia and is the birthplace of full-flowered and deep rivers on Earth. One of them was the water artery, which flows into the heart of Africa - the Congo River. She acquired a lot of honored titles:

• the deepest river in the world (up to 230 meters);
• the very full flow after the Amazon;
• sAMI long river continent after the Nile;
• the only flow in the world crossing twice equator.

A researcher of the "black continent" Diogi Kan - a leaving from Portugal became the pioneer of the famous river in the XV century.

Geographical description

The river flows through the central part of Africa and bottled on the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and forms the non-manual border between the Republic and Angola.

The data on the origins of the Congo is ambiguous. Today there are two options for the origin of the river:

1. The point of reference is considered the water of the River Chambosis between the lakes of Nyas and Tanganyik at a two-day height;
2. The foundation of the Congo becomes the Lualaba River, originating on the Eastern Plateau of the Republic of Congo.

More than 4,700 km of the river lays their way in mountain ranges and on plateales, before reaching the Atlantic Ocean. Congo's current is accepted to divide on the top, middle and lower:

• in the upper reaches, the Congo thoroughly strives for the water on close crevices, forming waterfalls and sorts;
• on the plain part of Africa, the aqueous stream is bottled and creates a wide valley with a variety of lakes and ducts;
• South Guinea hill inhibits the river path in the lower current, concluding a stormy flow into the gorge of no more than 220 m wide, and a depth - about 230 m. This circumstance determines the special characteristic of the river as the deepest on the planet. Here, on the threshold, a height of 270 meters there is a drop in water flow, known to the whole world - it is called Livingston Falls. Seventy drops and waterfalls decorate the landscape on this flow site.

The deep river flows into the Atlantic Ocean at the village of Banana and forms a flooded mouth - estuary, expanding to 11 km. The current of the Congo in ocean waters is felt below 17 km from the compound of the Fresh and Salt Elements.

The most significant tributaries of the River Congo steel:

• Right: The influx of Congo - Aruvi, Ubanga, Sanga;
• Left: Lulong, hands, clouds, lows.

Characteristics of the Congo River in numbers

The deepest river in the world has a steep temper and expresses the delightful power and beauty of the world. Digital information about its geographical parameters is impressive and draws a more complete picture of the Congo:

• The total length of aquatic streams is 4700 km, and considering the tributaries of the river - twenty thousand kilometers, which is equal to half the length of the circumference of the Earth;
• the river puts into the ocean 42450 cubic meters of water per second, giving the championship in this only Amazon;
• water consumption in the mouth - from 23,000 to 75,000 m³ / s, and the average annual stock 1450 km³;
• the saturation of the river with water is held at one mark during the year, due to the next seasons of the rains. Congo ranks second in the world after its South American sister on the pool area - 3,680,000 km²;
• Congo is not only the deepest river in the world, but also one of the broadest - the distance from one shore to another is 15 kilometers;
• the Congo River has enormous potential for use in hydropower. Energy supply is estimated at 390 GW - this impressive digit can eclipse the production of electricity, for example in Russia for 2007;
• daily along the river there are several thousand cargo ships, a complex branched system provides settlements Everyone necessary. The length of navigable pathways is about twenty thousand kilometers.

The shipping system includes the entire basin of the river, making it an extensive structure. The total length of the paths is more than 20 thousand kilometers. On shipping paths are thousands of transportation ship daily.

Animal and vegetable world of the Congo River

The extended water artery of Central Africa amazes the magnificence and diversity of the fauna and the flora: its shores are covered with tropical jungle, in which more than 600 species of trees grow and more than ten thousand animal classes live.

Despite the massive extermination of animals of the African continent, the fauna of the basin of the Congo River pleases many species of wild animals:

• primates - Gorillas and other species;
• feline - leopards;
• probitive - elephants;
• greaves - buffaloes.

The manifold of birds and reptiles, especially reptile. Crocodiles are found in the warm waters of the Congo.

The Blue Highway Africa is famous for unique fishing due to the fact that her character changes throughout the path: at the beginning - it is small and narrow, further - stormy and rapid, lower is the formation of lakes and slowly the current flow.

The temperature of the water reaches thirty degrees Celsius, which contributes to the development of a large number of river microorganisms that are excellent food for fish.

Here you can catch Soma, Mormops, Nilea perch, but most of all the fishermen seek to pull out the unique fishing fishery from the water - Tiger Goliath. The Latin name characterizes this creature is best - a gigantic water dog having sharp fangs, size up to one and a half meters and weight up to seventy kilograms. This "dog" is characterized by a beautiful overflowing silver-gold scales. Her meat looks like, according to the testimony of fishermen, on Sudak.

The vegetation of the Congo forms powerful block Rain multi-tier forests with wood canopy about 35 meters, with trees-towers reaching 60 m. They are not discharged by foliage, but are characterized by the presence of evergreen crown. Jungle Congo called " light planet" Basic large trees are amazing with their power, unusualness and exotic beauty:
- The Entalofragma of the Meliev family is a high plant with a powerful thick barrel and a crown, similar to a flat roof;
- Guarea or red wood, distinguished by the rare beauty of wood;
- Marantes naked from the family of chrysobalan with fruits hanging bunches;
- Bean - Parking Double and others.

On the swampy flooded areas, herbaceous types of vegetation prevail, the most numerous of which is papyrus.

Dry sandy valleys of the Congo River are covered with thickets of low-spirited trees and cereal herbs.

River Congo on the map of Africa

The map of Africa is visible the path that the Congo River does through the expanses of the equatorial part of the continent: from East African Plateau to the Atlantic Ocean.

• Thanks to smooth bending in the central part twice crosses the equator, which distinguishes it from all rivers of the world.
• The river became the natural border of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from the Congo country.
• The largest influx of Congo - Ubanga continues to distinguish between African states. He watches the border zone of the DRC and Congo, as well as the Central African Republic.

Ecological status of the Congo River

The deterioration of the environmental situation in the river basin is explained by several circumstances:

• Congo - transport highway, a setting message between countries and cities of the Black Continent;
• The use of resources of the greatest water flow in the economic development of Africa;
• The largest river in the world allows you to develop hydropower countries: built forty hydroelectric power plants;
• Plants and Factories for the Processing of minerals developed on the banks of the Congo: Silver, Nickel, Uranus, Copper Ore, Cobalt and others;
• Settlements along the water flow;
• Megapolis Kisangani with a million population and the largest river port.

The environmental condition of the Congo is due to several directions:

• pollution of water and adjacent natural zones household and chemical waste of numerous processing plants;
• extermination of river inhabitants due to poaching and poisoning of enterprises emissions;
• the occurrence of swamps in some areas of the river space;
• the destruction of the soil layer and the loss of the fertility of the Earth due to the cutting of forests and the transition of a person to new places.

River Congo (or Zaire) - big River in Central Africa. Most of the channel is planted on the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Kong. The river is a natural border between DCR and the Republic of Congo, as well as DKR and Angola. This is the fastest and second (after Nile) along the river length on the mainland. Understanding the Congo is not inferior to any other world river except Amazon. Another similarity between Amazon and Congo, there is a terrible fish (monster of the Congo River), which is inferior in bloodthirstiness, probably only Piranhas. Among other things, Congo is the only large river crossing the equator twice.

The river was known to Europeans for a long time. In 1482, the Portuguese navigator Diogu Kan opened it.

Length: 4 700 km.

Waterguide pool area: 3,680,000 square meters. km.

Where leaks: Congo originates at an altitude of 1600 meters above sea level, between Lakes Niass and Tanganica on the territory of Zambia. According to other sources, the source is on the plateau of the BACK in DKR, near the border with Zambia west from the city of Kolvelisi. Before the waterfalls of the wall (near the city of Kisangani), the river is called Lualab, then the river is already called the Congo.

On average, the mountainous relief is replaced by the plain and the river spread, forming a wide valley with a large number of ducts and lakes. The width of the valley in some places reaches 20 km.

In the lower flow, the river blocks the path of the South-Guinea hill, and the river turns out to be clamped in a deep narrow gorge, the width of which in some places comes up to 300 meters. The depth of the river places is 230 m and even more. This makes Congo the deepest river of the world. The total drop in this area is 270 m. In this area it is found a large number of Thresholds and swirling that received the name of Livingston Falls. The mouth of the river is located at the city of Banana, where the Congo flows into the Atlantic Ocean forming the estuary.

The Congo River is really an unusual river. It has the greatest potential for economic use In hydropower among all rivers of the world. This is explained by both the fullness of the river and the large drop of the channel throughout its course. Unlike Congo others large rivers Lower course are flat. The overall supply of hydropower is estimated to be 390 GW. In just a waterfall of Livingston, about ~ 113.4 GW or ~ 994 TVT · h of electricity per year is concluded. To appreciate this figure, it is worth saying that in 2007 the development of all power plants of Russia (including thermal, atomic, hydro ...) amounted to 997.3 TVs. But the problem is to curb this power. In 2014, the construction of HPP "Grand Inga" with a capacity of 39.6 GW will begin. The cost of construction is estimated at 80 billion dollars. Grand Inga 2 times will surpass the most powerful on this moment Hydroelectric power station "Three Gorges" in China, and more than 100 times the Kakhovskaya HPP with a capacity of 351 MW.

Water consumption in the mouth can vary from 23,000 m³ / s to 75,000 m³ / sec, depending on the season and averages 46,000 m³ / s. The average annual flow is equal to 1450 km 3. A solid stock is about 50 million tons per year. The river, also distinguished by a relatively smooth water regime, which is caused by the intermittent rainy season in different parts of the river basin. The ocean in the area of \u200b\u200bthe mouth is designed to a distance of 76 km. from the shore.

Main tributaries: Ubanga, Sanga, Cassai (KVA). The river basin includes, also, such large lakes: Tanganic, Kivu, MVERU, Tumb, Bangveulu ...

Pool of the River Congo on the map:

Video, trailer for the film "Congo River, Beyond Darkness", from Thierry Michel.

Teri spent 7 months in these parts, and passed 4000 km along the river.

I do not know where to eat full version The film, found only.

Congo ... This word is usually associated with Africa. But what is the Congo - River, country, or maybe the people? It turns out that all together.

What is Congo?

With the title "Congo" a lot of concepts are connected. Initially, it indicated one of african peoples and translated as "hunters". What is Congo now? Over time, the name was transferred to the language of the same name and the river flowing next to the place of his stay.

In addition, the word served as the title for the two modern states - the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The river the same name and its influx of the Ubanti flows along the borders of the countries, separating them from each other. Capital of states are located on opposite shores and are large ports. There is no bridge between them, but they are connected by ferry crossing and regular boat carriage.

Where is Congo? All geographic objects with this title are located in Central Africa, on both sides of the equator. Unlike other regions of the continent, there is a rich and diverse nature. In most areas, hot and humid climate. During the year, the temperature practically does not change and ranges from 25 to 28 degrees.

Two similar and different countries

Already from the XIX century, the Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo developed separately. But still they have quite a lot in common. States are located on the shores of the same river and even have a common neighbor - the CAR. In the XIV century of their land partially covered the Kingdom of Congo. The geography of this state also included the northern part of modern Angola.

In the XV century, Portuguese landed the shores of Central Africa. They traded with local leaders, exchanging weapons on slaves, who hired to work in Brazil. Europeans gradually entered the confidence of the rulers of the kingdom and increased their influence over Africans every time. When the number of exported slaves has become too big, the local rebelled. There were long conflicts between the parties, and as a result, the kingdom broke up.

In the XIX century, a colonial period occurred in the history of states. The lands of the Republic of Congo were taken by the French, including them in the French Equatorial Africa. The territory of the Democratic Republic became the personal ownership of the Belgian king Leopold and was called "Free State". It was a terrible period in the life of the Congolese, during which they were forced to work alimony, and disobedience was punished with cut off limbs, beating and murder. In 1908, the king sold the Congo to the government, and the country officially became a colony of Belgium.

In 1960, both states were freed from their colonializers. In those years, the question of what Congo, could cause a significant difficulty, after all, becoming independent, countries chose the same names. To avoid confusion, one of them had to rename into the Democratic Republic. Before the adoption of this decision, Congo Brazzaville and Congo Leopolville were called the country.

Indigenous peoples

The region where the Congo is originally inhabited by Pagimia. These are low-spirited people from 130 to 150 cm in the height living in the forests. They still lead a nomadic lifestyle, engaged in hunting and collecting. Now in both republics they constitute no more than 10% of the total population.

Even before our era, a bow came to the territory of the Republic of the Congo, who later settled in the DRC. With you, they brought metallurgy, high-firing agriculture and slave-ownership, it was the Bantian tribes that created the Kingdom in the XIV century.

These peoples include many ethnic groups (Luba, Tecca, Montgo, Mboši, etc.). Today in the DRC, they constitute about 45% of the population, in the Republic of the Congo and more - about 98%. One of the most numerous ethnic groups is Congo. The language of this nation is considered national in both states. In all Africa, they own about 7 million people.

Democratic Republic of Congo

This state is mainly on the right side of the river of the same name. It borders with Angola, Zambia, King, South Sudan, the Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania and Uganda. In the southwest, it has a small way out to the ocean. The length of the shore is only 37 kilometers.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is one of the largest countries in Africa and the world (11th place). Its area is 2,345,410 km 2. About 83 million people are living here, which represent about 200 different nationalities. The Congo ethnos belongs to about 7.4 million people. The official language is French, although there are more bands for the bantia among the inhabitants.

The country is not deprived natural wealth. It can meet everyone typical inhabitants Africa: buffaloes, elephants, giraffes, lions, gorillas, leopards, crocodiles, hippopots. It was not without dangerous "residents." In the Congo distributed poisonous snake Mamba, Malari mosquitoes and fly tsets. In the XV century, their presence hurt the Portuguese to master the local jungle.

The country has a huge amount of minerals, nevertheless, it regularly falls on the lists of the poorest countries of the world. The DRC contains deposits of diamonds, gold, copper, zinc, oil, coal, uranium, silver, tin. However, the high level of corruption and crime does not allow the country to develop. But the shadow economy develops successfully. Periodically in the country there are wars for resources and illegal trade with them, in particular, for the deposits of the Mineral Columbit, from which the tantalum metal is obtained.

Kinshasa

By the number of population, the capital of Congo Kinshasa is the second city in Black Africa. About 10 million people live in it, although this figure was twice as smaller. By the number of French-speaking residents in the world, it exceeds only Paris.

The fact that Kinshasa is the main city of the country is not always clear. He is full of contrasts: quite close to elite high-altitude houses and excellent roads are unlucky slums. Urban transport is usually represented by cargo machines with hand-cut windows and inserted seats. In the poor, roads may not be, but in the center there are absolutely normally equipped stops.

The city founded the British journalist and traveler Henry Morton Stanley in 1881. In honor of the Belgian king, he was named Leopolville. He became the first shipping port on the river, which significantly contributed to its development. He was renamed only in Kinshas in 1966, when Africanization policy was held in the country.

Republic of Congo

Western Congo in Africa is much smaller than its east neighbor. The country takes only 342,000 km 2 and borders with Cameroon, Gabon, King, DRC and Angola. In the southwest, it is washed by the Atlantic Ocean.

The republic inhabits 4.9 million people, of which the Congo nation include approximately 1.6 million. Mostly they are engaged in trade and agriculture. This is one of the least populated countries on the continent with a density of only 14 h / km 2. The population is focused mainly in the south and in the coastal strip, in the north, the density is about 2 h / km 2.

Official language - French, and languages \u200b\u200bBantu are considered national. More than half of the inhabitants adhere to animism, 47% of Christians, mostly Catholics and Protestants. A small percentage adheres to Muslim.

If we talk about nature and climate, then the description of the Congo coincides with its DRC. More than 50% of the territory is occupied by wet equatorial forests in which there are many exotic animals for us. But in terms of economics, the country is superior to DRC. Cases here are more organized and the political situation is more stable. As a result, the Republic is the fourth country of the Guinean bay in the number of oil supplied. The second source of income is the delivery of valuable trees: Akazu, Limba, Okum, etc.

Brazzaville

More than half of the population of the Republic of Congo lives in cities. The largest of them: Brazzaville, Pointe Nouire, Kinkala, Mading, Loubomo and Jambala with a population of more than 150,000 people. Brazzaville is the capital of the Congo, more than 1.4 million people live in it.

It was founded in 1880 as a French military post. Soon he turned into an important shopping point on the river, and with the acquisition of the country of independence became its administrative center.

Now the city is also the financial and industrial center of the Congo, which develops textile, engineering and leather industry. As the main port of the country, it is delivered by rubber, agricultural products and wood.

From the main airport of Brazzaville, you can reach such a city as Pointe Nouire, as well as some cities in Europe and the Middle East. There are also flights to Kinshasu, True, flight from one point to another lasts about five minutes.

The fastest river of the continent

Congo - the second on the value of the African River. She originates in the Zambia district and flows into the Atlantic Ocean, stretching about 4,700 kilometers. The River Congo - the second half of the world after the Amazon.

Spinning throughout Central Africa, she crosses the equator twice. On some extensive areas, it flows through smooth lowlands, on others - passes through the thresholds, forming many waterfalls. Approximately the four sections are possible shipping, and the hydropower capabilities of the Congo river would have enough to provide electricity to half the continent.

Finally

So, we found out: to the question of what Congo, a single answer cannot be. One name spread immediately into several objects, denoting the river, two African states, language and people. All of them appeared separately, but closely related to each other. And the beginning of this was laid by the National Congo, who came to this region of Central Africa from the north to our era.

River Congo is the deepest river on the planet, length Congo It is 4344-4700 km. Pool area - 3,680,000 km². The most complete and second on the length of the Africa River, the second river along the water in the world after the Amazon. The only major river crossing the equator twice. ( 11 photos)

1. The river was opened in 1482 by the Portuguese navigator Digow Kan. Congo originates in the south-east of the Republic of Congo, near the border with Zambia.

2. In the lower current, the Congo breaks through the South Guinean elevation in deep narrow (places of no more than 300 meters) gorge, forming Livingston's waterfalls (total drop 270 meters), depths on this site are 230 meters and more, which makes Congo The most deep river in the world.

3. The Congo River is the largest river in Central Africa and the very long-water river of the globe after. Depending on the time of the year, the water consumption at the mouth may vary from 23,000 m³ / second to 75,000 m³ / s, the average consumption is about 46,000 m³ / s. The average annual stock 1450 km³.

4. The flood on the river occurs twice a year, at the mouth of the river, the water rises to the highest mark in May and December, and lowered to the lowest level - in the spring period, March and August. During the floody, the turbid waters of Congo are visible for hundreds of kilometers far in the Atlantic Ocean, where the Congo falls in a deep river.

5. Fishermen at the Congo hunt for the Nile region, Som Congo, Mormops, and others. But the most interesting fishing will be, of course, on tiger fish. Represents large predatory fish with big teeth. Tiger fish can reach up to 70 kg. Tiger fish is one of the most dangerous predatory representatives of fish, on a series of p. The photo below shows the tiger fish.

6. The very same Tiger Fish is very similar to our jerge. But she attacks an ambush. And local fishermen have rumors about the attack of tiger fish on people. Yes, with such teeth and powerful jaw, it can quite afford to eat some of the representatives of mammals, but preference gives small fish. By the way, the name of the fish received due to the striped color and the location of the teeth, so similar to. Tiger fish.

7. The Congo River is a large economic character, because the river is one of the main waterways of the movement of Africa. The total length of shipping paths along the Congo River and its influx has about 20,000 km. Since the river transfers large mass of water, it automatically becomes one of the main source of hydropower. Currently already on r. Congo are already three large hydropower plants.

8. Before pushing into the Atlantic Ocean, the Congo forms a deep funnel-like mouth, in which the saline ocean waters penetrate. The Congo River can be called one of the most beautiful and picturesque rivers of the world, because throughout the river we can meet beautiful mountain ranges replacing evergreen tropical forests Surrounded by picturesque valleys.

9. Scientists call the Congo River of one of the richest rivers of the world, the fact that traces of mineral presence were found on its shores. Near the River Congo found traces of the field of the following metals: copper ore, cobalt, zinc, uranium, silver, radium, molybdenum, nickel and others.

10. As we see at the river many different advantages, but the unique river makes her depth, remind you that the maximum point of the Congo depth is 230 meters. The deepest river in the world, the Congo River.

It is also worth seeing.
Surfing at Congo.

Congo (Zaire, Lualaba) - River in Central Africa, mainly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (partially proceeds along its borders with the Republic of Congo and Angola), the most complete and second long-distance River of Africa, the second river on water in the world after Amazon. In the upper course (above the city of Kisangani) called Lualaba. The only major river crossing the equator twice. Pool area - 4,014,500 km.

Takes the beginning of the Millia settlement.

Geography

River pool

The length of the Congo from the source of the Chambashi is over 4700 km, from the source Lualabe - 4374 km. Pool area - 4,014,500 km. The source of Lualuba originates in the south-east of DRC, on the plateau near the border with Zambia. According to other data, the Congo is the Chambash River, which is formed between the lakes of Nyas and Tanganic at an altitude of 1590 meters above sea level. She flows into Lake Bangveulu, follows from him under the name Lupula, flows into Lake Mweru, leaving him as the Luvua River and connects with Lualaba. For the upper current of the Congo (Lualaba), located within the flatbed and plateau, characteristic of the alternation of the spoiled areas and aligned beefs with a calm current. The highest drop (475 m at a distance of about 70 km) Lualab is different in the gorge Nzilo, which it cuts through the southern spurs of Mount Mitumba. Starting from the city of Bukam, the river slowly flows, much meandering, fastened to the robin of the stubborn. Below the city of Kongolo Lualab breaks through the crystal breeds of the Gorge of Port-D, the Anfer (Hell Gate), forming thresholds and waterfalls; Next, downstream follows one after another several groups of waterfalls and thresholds. Between cities Kindu and Ubundu River again calmly flows in a wide valley. Under the same equator, it descends from the edge ledge of the plateau in the depression of the Congo, forming the waterfalls Stanley.

After Stanley's waterfalls, the Kisangani River is changing the name to the Congo. On average, the Congo concluded within the depression of the Congo, the river is calm in nature with a slight drop (on average about 0.07 m / km). Its row, mostly with low and flat, often marshy shores, is a chain of lake expansion (in places up to 15 km), separated relatively narrowed (up to 1.5-2 km) areas. In the central part of the depressions of the Congo, the floodplains of the river and her right tributaries, Ubanga and Sanga merge together, forming one of the world's largest periodically flooded areas. As it approaches the Western Territory, the appearance of the river changes: it is compressed here between high (100 m or more) and steep root shores, narrowing in places less than 1 km; Depths increase (often up to 20 - 30 m), flow rapidly. This narrowed plot, the so-called channel, goes into the lake expansion of Stanley Pool (about 30 km long, up to 25 km long), which ends with the average Congo course.

In the lower current, the Congo breaks through to the ocean through the South Guinean plateau in a deep (up to 500 m) gorge. The row width here is reduced to 400-500 m, sometimes up to 220-250 m. For 350 km between the cities of Kinshas and Matadi River descends 270 m, forming about 70 thresholds and waterfalls united under the general name of Livingston Falls. The depths of this section are 230 m and more, which makes the Congo the most deep river in the world. Matadi Congo goes to the seaside lowland, the channel expands to 1-2 km, the depths of the fairway reach 25-30 m. Near the city of Boma, the estuary of the Congo begins, the width of which in the middle part comes to 19 km, then decreases to 3.5 km and It increases again to the mouth, which is 9.8 km. The vertex and the middle part of the estuary are busy actively emerging young delta. The continuation of the estuary is the underwater Congo Canyon with a total length of at least 800 km.

Inflows

The most significant tributaries of the Congo

Upper treatment: Right - Lufira, Luvua, Lukuga; On average: left - scans, Lullego, hands, Kasai (the largest left of the tributaries), right - Aruvimi, IMTIBIRI, MONGAL, Ubanggi (the largest influx of Congo), Sanga; In the lower current - Inksi (left), Alima (right).

The Congo system owns several large lakes: Tanganica and Kivu in the Lukuga River basin; Bangveulu and MVERU in the Luvua River Basin; Mai Nomber in the Kasa River Basin; Tumba (has a runaway directly in the Congo through the Flower Ireb).

Hydrology

In the formation of the flow of the River Basin, the prevailing role plays abundant rain nutrition. Most of the tributaries of the Congo are characterized by the predominance of the autumnal drain: on catching tributaries in the northern hemisphere, the maximum rise of water is observed in September-November, in South - in April-May. The April-May maximum of the flow is characteristic and for the Upper Congo (Lualaby). On average, especially in the lower course of the Congo, seasonal flow fluctuations are largely smoothed due to the time of income into the hollow water river of its tributaries; Of all the great rivers of the globe of the Congo differs in the greatest natural regulation. In the year, the level, nevertheless, two lifting and two recession are clearly expressed. On the middle of the Congo, the rise of water corresponding to the autumn maximum of the layout of Lualabe, is shifted to May-June and is of a secondary character, the main rise - in November-December, under the influence of floods on the northern tributaries. In the lower reaches of the Congo, the main rise also falls on November-December; A less significant rise in April-May is connected mainly with the autumn maximum drain of the Kaia River. Average water costs in the lower current of the Congo (near the Boma): Annual - 39 thousand m? / S, a month of the highest water (December) - 60 thousand m? / S, in the month of the lowest water (July) - 29 thousand . m? / sec; Absolute extreme expenses - from 23 to 75 thousand m? / sec. The average annual stock is 1230 km (according to other data, 1453 km). Huge masses of water, endowed by the Congo in the ocean, despite its 75 km from the coast. The solid stock of the Congo on the assistant plot of about 50 million tons per year.

The average monthly expenses of water in the river (m? / S) in the area of \u200b\u200bKinshasa (480 km from the mouth) from 1903 to 1983

Economic use

Hydropower resources

Compared to other rivers of the world, the Congo has one of the largest hydroenergy reserves, which are estimated at 390 GW. The latter is explained by a large amount of water carried by the river, and a significant drop in the channel throughout its mouth. Other large rivers in their lower current are flat and flow in lowlands. A few large hydroelectric power plants were built on the Congo - Nzila, Nsec (on Lualabe), Inga (on Livingston Falls). In total, about 40 hydropower plants were built in the Congo pool.

The largest hydroelectric station of the river is the Inga, which is about about 200 km south-west of Kinshasa. The INGA project was launched in the early 1970s construction of the first dam. To date, only two dams "Inga I" (Fr. Barrage Inga I) and Inga II (Fr. Barrage Inga II) are built (FR. Barrage Inga II) on which fourteen turbines work. Inga III projects (FR. Barrage Inga III) and "Grand Inga" (FR. Barrage Grand Inga, English. Grand Inga Dam) are at the design stage. In the case of the project "Grand Inga" project, its capacity is more than twice as much as the power of the HPP "Three Gorges" in China. There are concerns that the construction of these new dams can lead to extinction of many species of fish that are endemic in the river.

Shipping

The total length of navigable ways on rivers and lakes of the Congo basin is about 20 thousand km. Most of the river sites available for shipping concentrated in the Congo depression, where they form a single branched waterway system, which, however, is separated from the ocean by Livingston's waterfalls in the lower course of the Congo. The river itself has 4 major shipping sites: Bukama - Congolo (645 km), Kindu - Ubundu (300 km), Kisangani - Kinshasa (1742 km), Matadi - Usti (138 km); The last plot, the so-called sea bief is available for ocean courts. The shipping sections of the Congo are interconnected by railways. The main river and lake ports in the Congo pool: on the Congo - Kinshasa, Brazzaville, Mbandaka, Kisangani, Ubundu, Kindu, Congolo, Cant, Bukama; On the River Ubanggi - Bangui; on the Kasai River - Ilebo; On Lake Tanganyika - Kalima, Kigoma, Bujumbura; On Lake Kiva - Bukavu. In the lower reaches of the Congo - Marine Ports Matadi, Boma, Banana.

Fisheries

Rivers and lakes of the Congo basin are rich in fish (about 1000 species, many of whom have commercial importance: Nile Okun, Tilapia, Barbel, Large Tiger Fish, Freshwater herring and others).

Cities on the river

The most important cities at the Congo:

Bukama

Bukama (start of shipping) - the city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Katanga Province), the river marina in the upper reaches of the Lualaba River, the railway station on Lubumbashi - Ilebo.

Congolo.

Congolo is a city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The airport.

Kindu

Kindu is a city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Administrative center of the province of Moneya. Lies on the West Bank of the Congo River at an altitude of 500 m above sea level. Located by railway with the south of the country, has an airport. In the city you can meet the features of Islamic and Swahilic cultures.

Kisangani

Port in Kisangani

Kisangani (until 1966 - Stanlyville) - the city in the northeast of the Congo, the Administrative Center of Chopo Province. In 2010, the population was 868,672 people. Port on the Congo River below the Stanley Waterfall. In the city there train StationUniversity and International Airport. Founded by the famous traveler, researcher in Africa and (journalist Henry Stanley in 1883 and was originally called Stanlivil. Contemporary Kisangani - Center for Agricultural Area, where the primary processing of agricultural raw materials (rice and cotton cleaning) is carried out. In addition, there are food, textile, chemical industries , Woodworking, as well as the production of building materials.

Kinshasa

Kinshasa (until 1966 - Leopolville) - the capital (since 1960) of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is located on the Congo River, opposite the city of Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of Congo. Although the population of the city in 2009 amounted to 10,076,099 people, 60% of its territory represents a glorified countryside, which, nevertheless, entered administrative borders cities. The denselyened city districts occupy only a small part of the territory in the West of the province.

Matadi

Matadi (in the language of the Congo's people (Kikongo) - denotes the "stone") - the main seaport of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the center of the province of Central Congo (former province of the lower Congo). Matadi was founded in 1879 by Henry Morton Stanley. The city is located on the left bank of the Congo River, 148 kilometers from the mouth. In 2004, the population amounted to 245,862 people.

Boma

Boma is a city in the West of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in the estuary of the Congo River, is located 75 km from Congo to the Atlantic Ocean. Large port (available for maritime courts; export of cocoa, bananas, rubber, valuable wood breeds). There is food (brewing, fish), chemical, woodworking industry, shipbuilding, metal processing and agricultural products. The initial point of the railway on the brow. The airport. In 2010, the population amounted to 167,326 people. From 1886 to 1926 there was the capital of the Belgian Congo (then the capital was transferred to Leopoldville - now the city of Kinshasa).

Banana

Banana (FR. Banana) is a small city and seaport in the province of the Central Congo of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The port is located on the north shore of the mouth of the Congo River and separated from the ocean with a skeleton length of 3 kilometers and a width of 100 to 400 meters. To the north-west of the port is the city of Muand, to which a highway is laid along the coast.

Brazzaville

Brazzaville (FR. Brazzaville) - the financial and administrative capital and the most populous city of the Republic of Congo, located on the right bank of the Congo River, opposite Kinshasa. The population for 2010 is 1,252,974 people. A third population of the Republic of Congo lives in Brazaville and employs about 40% of people employed in the agricultural industry.

History of opening and research

At the end of 1481, the Portuguese king Zhuan II sent Karavel Flotilla along the west coast of Africa to the Golden Beach (modern Ghana) to open the mining mines there. The expedition headed Diogu de Azambuju. For the mine, slaves were needed, so in 1482 Azambuzha sent Diogu Kata to examine the unknown then the West Coast of Africa. In the area of \u200b\u200b6 ° South latitude, the Portuguese discovered mouth big River And they landed ashore, where they met the black people of the Bantian tribe. They said that the river is called Nzari - "Big", and the state, in the territory of which she flows, rules the king, whoaring the title of Mani Congo (English) Russian .. In the opening of these lands, the Portuguese installed near the mouth of the Padran (Stone Pillars ), and the river was called the Padrau River (Rio Do Padrao).

The upper current of the Congo (Lualaba) is open to David Livingston in 1871. The most part of the Congo from Niangwe downstream was investigated in 1876-1877 Henry Stanley. The influx of Cassai explored Wisman in 1885.

sights

The most famous waterfalls on the River-Useree Stanley (Boyoma) in the upper reaches of the Congo, Inga in its middle course, as well as a cascade of Livingston Waterfalls in the lower reaches.