20 Interesting Facts About the Congo River

Although not the longest river in Africa, the Congo River is remarkable for its many unique characteristics. Flowing steadily through the hottest continent on our planet, it provides life to millions of people living along its banks.

However, not much is known about the Congo River, as in the past, scientists did not give it the attention it deserved, and today, the surrounding regions are not particularly safe for researchers.

Facts About the Congo River:

1. Water Volume: The Congo River surpasses even the Nile in terms of water volume and is second only to the Amazon globally.
2. Depth: It is the deepest river in the world, with certain spots reaching depths of over 230 meters.
3. Local Name: The upper course of the river is known locally as the Lualaba, but in European classifications, the entire river from its source to its mouth is referred to as the Congo.
4. Length: The river is 4,374 kilometers long, making it the 10th longest river in the world.
5. Equator Crossing: The Congo River is the only major river in the world that crosses the equator twice.
6. Width: Apart from its impressive depth and length, the Congo River also boasts a considerable width, reaching up to 15 kilometers in some areas.
7. Hydropower Potential: The Congo River has the largest hydropower potential in the world, due to its significant drop in elevation along its course and the volume of water it carries.
8. Dams: Three hydroelectric dams have already been built on the Congo River, with plans for additional ones in the future.
9. Dangerous Wildlife: Swimming in the Congo is not recommended due to the presence of the goliath tigerfish, a predator that can grow up to 1.5 meters in length and is known to attack humans.
10. Natural Resources: The Congo River basin is rich in minerals such as nickel, zinc, silver, copper ore, and radium.
11. Economic Potential: The Democratic Republic of the Congo, located along the river’s banks, could potentially be the richest country in the world due to its 80% share of the world’s uranium ore reserves. However, it remains one of the poorest nations globally.
12. Basin Size: The Congo River basin, located in the heart of Africa, is the second-largest in the world, covering more than 4 million square kilometers.
13. Second Longest River: Among all African rivers, the Congo ranks second in length, surpassed only by the Nile.
14. Local Beliefs: Some indigenous peoples living along the river believe it is inhabited by spirits of death, likely due to the dangerous river predators.
15. Freshwater Impact: As it flows into the ocean, the Congo River freshens the seawater up to 70-75 kilometers from the shore, due to the immense volume of water it carries.
16. European Exploration: European explorers partially charted the Congo River in the 15th century, but it wasn’t fully mapped until the 19th century.
17. Rain Dependency: The river receives the majority of its water from rainfall.
18. Fish Species: There are over 900 different species of fish living in the Congo River.
19. Navigable Waterways: The total length of navigable waterways on the Congo River reaches 20,000 kilometers, equivalent to half the length of the Earth’s equator.
20. Largest City: The largest city on the river’s banks is Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of the Congo, home to one-third of the country’s population.