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Encyclopedia Britannica - Main :: COM-COR |
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CONGO , formerly known as Zaire, the largest of the rivers of Africa, exceeded in size among the rivers in the world by the Amazon only. The Congo, though it has a shorter course than the Nile, has a length of fully 3000 M. and a drainage area estimated at 1,425,000 sq. m., with a diameter of some 1400 M. either way. This vast area includes the equatorial basin of Central Africa and much of the surrounding plateaus. West and north the Congo basin is bounded by comparatively narrow bands of higher ground, while east and south the drainage area of the river includes considerable portions of the high plateaus of east and south Central Africa. The main drainage of the Congo system is thus north and west, and these two directions dominate the great bow-like sweep of the main stream before it is deflected south on approaching the western highlands, through which it finally forces a way to the Atlantic Ocean. From the high lands of the south and east in which the head-streams of the Congo have their origin, the land falls in a succession of steps, generally marked by gorges or rapids in the upper courses of the streams. Besides the main stream most of theaffluents of the river are navigable for considerable distances; in all there are over 6000 m. of navigable water in the Congo basin and 20,000 m. of overhanging wooded banks. On the Congo alone are over 4000 islands, many of considerable lengthsome fifty of them are over ten miles long. The volume of water poured into the Atlantic is at least 1,200,000 cubic ft. per second.' Head-Streams.The most distant head-streams of the Congo are far to the north and east of those most to the south, and it is difficult to determine which stream is the " parent " river. The easterly head-streams are, however, regarded generally as marking the true course of the Congo. The most remote of these rivers is the Chambezi, which, with its tributaries, rises (in British territory) on the southern slope of the plateau between lakes Nyasa and Tanganyika at an elevation
chief
1 Sir John Murray estimated the mean annual discharge of the Congo at 419.291 cub. m., making it in this respect only second to the Amazon (Scot. Geog. Mag., 1887). The annual rainfall of the basin he put at 1213'344 cub. m. and 6 m. E. of the source of the Zambezi, both streams running a parallel course northward for some 15 M. There is, however, no connexion between the Zambezi and Congo systems. The Lualaba, also known as Nzilo, which is the main stream of the Kamolondo, rises at an altitude of ,4700 ft., in 264o' E., just north of 12 S.the watershed of the western head-streams of the Congo being everywhere north of that parallel. East of the Lualababetween it and the Luapularises the river Lufira. With many windings the Lualaba and Lufira pursue a generally northerly direction, passing through the Mitumba range in deep gorges, their course being broken by rapids for 40 OP 5o M. Below Konde Rapids in 9 2o' S. the Lualaba is, however, free from obstructions. (Just above the last of the series of rapids it is joined by the Lubudi, a considerable river and the western-most of the Kamolondo affluents.) Between the rapids named and 7 4o' S. its valley is studded with a chain of small lakes and backwaters. The largest Upembahas channels communicating both with the Lualaba and the Lufira. In the rainy
grasses
there is no interruption to navigation saving the floating masses of vegetation on Kisale at high water. The region watered by these western head-streams of the Congo includes Katanga and other districts, which are among the most fertile and densely populated in Belgian Congo. The Upper Congo or Lualaba.After the junction of the Luapula (Luvua) and the Lualaba (Kamolondo) the united stream, known as the Lualaba or Lualaba-Congo, and here over half a mile wide, pursues a N.N.W. course towards the equator . The Dia Rapids, already mentioned, are the first obstruction to navigation encountered. A mile or two lower down the Lualaba passes through a narrow gorge called the Porte d'Enfer. From this point as far north as 3 10' S. the course of the river is interrupted by falls and rapids, the chief
equator , the Lubamba, the Ella or Lira, the Luindi and the Lowa being the most important. Their sources lie on an upland region west of the Albertine rift-valley. The Luindi in its middle course has a general width of 6o to roo yds., but the Lowa is larger, receiving two important affluents, the Luvuto from the north and the Ozo which rises in the mountains at the N.W. end of Lake Kivu. The lower course of the Luindi is very tortuous.Stanley Falls.Stanley Falls, which mark the termination of the upper Congo, begin a few miles south of the equator. At this point the river forsakes the northerly course it has been pursuing and sweeps westward through the great equatorial basin. The falls consist of seven cataracts extending along a curve of the river for nearly 6o m. They are not of great heightthe total fall is about 200 ft.but they effectually prevent915 navigation between the waters above and those below except by canoes. The first five cataracts are near together; only 9 M. separate the first from the fifth. The sixth
sixth
The Middle Congo.Below Stanley Falls the Congo is unbroken by rapids for 98o m., and is navigable throughout this distance all the year round. The river here makes a bold north-westerly +7 SO' O Z Diondubg- - bongo pho 01 kTs- Q a O o t) m' V ., o 0's e Lowalca rebu as,.spa m Lira Suslndi Bokaka = Koko ` Boboko o W..4 Y o IV ~, N~Q.mba N gobe English Miles 6. t7So ~ Itut1 o t a ~ Emery walker sc. curve, attaining its most northerly point (2 13' 50" N.) at 22 13' E., and reaches the equator again after a course of 63o m. from the fallsthe distance in a direct line being 472 M. For another 250 M. the river flows south-westerly, until at Stanley Pool the limit of inland navigation is reached. For the greater part of this section the Congo presents a lacustrine character. Immediately below the falls the river, from i to i m. broad; flows between low hills, which on the south give place to a swampy region, the river-bank marked by a ridge
elevation
9I 6 found the largest islands of the CongoEsumba, 30 M. long, and Nsumba, 50 M. long, and over 5 across at its broadest part. At this point the river from bank to bank is 9 M. wide. Opposite Nsumba, the Mongala, a northern affluent, enters the main stream, whilst lower down (just north of the equator) the Lulanga, Ikelemba and Ruki rivers, southern tributaries, mingle their black waters with the dark current of the Congo. Thirty miles south of the equator the river is joined by the Ubangi (q.v.), its greatest northern affluent. Here the Congo is fully 8 m. wide. Opposite the Ubangi confluence is the mouth of a narrow channel, some ro m. long, which connects the Congo with Lake Ntomba, a sheet of water about 23 M. long by 8 to 12 broad. In flood time the water flows from the Congo into the lake. Immediately below ferruginous conglomerate hills of slight eminence reduce the river to a width of less than 2 m., and in comparatively close succession are two or three other narrows. With these exceptions the Congo continues at a width of 5 to 6 m. until at 2 36' S. it abruptly contracts, being confined between steep-faced hills rising to 800 ft. This stretch of the river, known as the "Chenal," is 125 M. long and is free from islands, though long reefs jut into the stream. Its width here varies from 2 M. to less than 1 m. About 40 M. after the Chenal is entered the Kasai (q.v.) coming from the south empties its brick-coloured waters at right angles into the Congo through a chasm in the hills 700 yds. wide. The confluence is known as the Kwa mouth. The Chenal ends in the lake-like expansion of Stanley Pool, 20 M. long by 14 broad. The middle of the pool is occupied by an island (Bamu) and numerous sandbanks. Its rim is " formed by sierras of peaked and picturesque mountains, ranging on the southern side from r000 ft. to 3000 ft. in height." The banks offer considerable variety in character. On the north bank are the Dover Cliffs, so named by H. M. Stanley from their white and glistening appearance, produced, however, not by chalk but by silver sand, the subsidence of which into the water renders approach to the bank sometimes dangerous. The banks of the lower end of the pool are comparatively flat. On the south side, however, stands the great red cliff of Kallina Point (about 50 ft. high), named after an Austrian lieutenant drowned there in 1882. Round the point rushes a strong current 71 knots an hour, difficult to stem even for a steamer. On the northern bank of the river at the western end of the pool is the French port of Brazzaville. South of the pool hills, low but steep, reappear, and 4 M. lower down begin the cataracts which cut off the middle Congo from the sea. Some 300 yds. above the first of these cataracts is the Belgian port of Leopoldville, connected with the navigable waters of the lower river by railway. At Stanley Pool the elevation of the river above the sea is about 800 ft., a fall of over 5oe ft. in the 98o m. from Stanley Falls. The banks of the river throughout this long stretch of country are very sparsely populated. The number of inhabitants in 1902 did not exceed 125,000. The velocity of the stream in the middle Congo varies considerably. At the Aruwimi confluence the rate is from 300 to 350 ft. a minute; in the broader stretches lower down the current is not more than 200 ft. a minute. Through the Chenal the pace is greatly accelerated, and as it flows out of Stanley Pool the current is not less than 600 ft. a minute. The Lower Congo.The cataracts below Stanley Pool are caused by the river forcing its way through the mountains which run parallel to the western coast of the continent. The highlands (known as the Serro do Crystal) consist of two principal mountain zones with an intermediate zone of lower elevation. The passage of this intermediate zone is marked by a fairly navigable stretch of river extending from Manyanga to Isangila, a distance of 70 m., during which the only serious rapids are those of Chumbo and Itunzima, the latter in 13 54' E.; while above and below, rapids succeed each other at short intervals. Some eighteen main rapids or falls occur during the upper section (87 m.), in the course of which the level drops about 5o0 ft.; and about ten in the lower section (56 m.), during which the fall is about 300. The last rapid is a little above the port of Matadi, beyond which the river is navigable for large vessels to the sea, a distance of about 85 m. At Matadi the tall cliffs on either side sink awayand the river widens out into an estuary with many mangrove-bordered creeks and forest-clad islands of a deltaic character. This estuary is traversed by a deep canon, in which soundings of 900 ft. have been obtained. The mouth of the river is in 6 S. and 12 20' E. The cafion or gully is continued into the open sea for over ioo m., with depths as much as 4000 ft. below the general level of the sea floor. Just below Matadi, where the width of the river is about half a mile, depths of 276 and 36o ft. have been found, the current here running at from 4 to 8 knots, according to the season; while the difference in level between high and low water is 20-25 ft. The difference in level is not due to tidal action but is caused by the rainy
The river at its mouth between Banana Point on the north and Sharks Point on the south is over 7 M. across. Banana Point (which grows no bananas) is the end of a long sandy 'peninsula, its highest spot not more than 6 ft. above high water; Sharks Point is bolder and shaped somewhat like a reaping-hook with the point turned inward, thus enfolding Diegos Bay. The current of the river is perceptible fully 30 M. out to sea, the brown waters of the Congo being distinguishable from the blue of the ocean. Northern Tributary Rivers.The various head-streams and affluents of the upper Congo have been already described. Below Stanley Pool numerous streams with courses of 100 or more miles drain the Crystal Mountains and join the Congo. They are unnavigable and comparatively unimportant. There remain to consider the affluents of the middle river. Of these the most important, the Ubangi on the north and the Kasai on the south, with their tributary streams, are noticed separately. In dealing with the other affluents of the Congo those entering the river on the right bank will be considered first. The Lindi enters the Congo about 15 M. below Stanley Falls in 25 4' E. It rises in 1 N., 2830' E., and flows W. in a tortuous course. Below the Lindi Falls in 1 20' N., 26 E. it is navigable, a distance of over roo m. A mile or two above its confluence with the Congo it is joined by the Chopo, a more southerly and less important stream. The basins of these two rivers do not extend to the outer Congo watershed, but the next feeder, the great Aruwimi, rises, as the Ituri, in close proximity to Albert Nyanza, flowing generally from east to west. It is formed of many branches, including the Nepoko from the north, and its upper basin extends over 21 of latitude. The upper river, to about 27 E., is much broken by rapids, but apart from those of Yambuya in 24 47' the lower river is nearly free from obstructions. To Yambuya, the limit of navigation from the mouth of the Aruwimi, is a distance of over 90 M. The Aruwimi flows almost entirely through the great equatorial forest, which here seems to reach its maximum density. Its confluence with the Congo is in 1 12' N., 23 38' E. On its north bank just above the mouth is the station of Basoko. The next tributary, known as the Loika, Itimbiri or Lubi river, rises in about 26 E., and, flowing generally west, joins the Congo by two mouths, 22 35'-46' E. The Loika is navigable by steamers as far as the Lubi Falls, a distance of 150 M. The Mongala, the next great tributary to join the Congo, drains the country between the Loika to the east and the Ubangi to the west. It rises in about 30 N., 23 20' E., and flows in a somewhat similar curve (on a smaller scale) to that of the Ubangi. The Mongala is navigable for over 300 m., and gives access to a fertile rubber-producing region. The Mongala confluence is in r 53' N., 19 49' E. Below the Ubangi confluence the Sanga, in 1 12' S., 16 53' E., joins the Congo. The Sanga rises in the north-west verge of the Congo basin and flows in a general north to south direction. Its lower course is tortuous, as it flows across level, often swampy, plains. The main northern branch rises in southern Adamawa in about 70 N., 150 E. An almost equally large western branch, the Dscha (or Ngoko), rises in about 30 N., 131 E., and after flowing W. for Too m. makes a sudden bend S.E., joining the main stream in 1 40' N., 16 E. In its course it traverses a vast tract of uninhabited forest. The Sanga is navigable by steamers as far as the south-east corner of the German colony of Cameroon, a distance of 350 M. The Likuala and Alima, which join the Congo within 30 M. of the mouth of the Sanga, are much smaller streams. The Lefini (mouth in 2 57' S., 16 T4'E.) is the last stream of any size to join the Congo above Stanley Pool. Southern Tributaries.The first of the southern tributaries of the middle Congo, the Lomami, enters the main stream in o 46' N., 24 16' E. It has a length of over 700 m., rising in nearly 9 S. It flows S. to N., the greater part of its course being parallel to and from 40 to 150 M. west of the upper Congo. It is comparatively narrow and tortuous, but deep, with a strong current, and is hardly broken by rapids north of 41 S. About 3 S. it traverses a region of swamps, which may have given rise to the reports once current of a great lake in this locality. For the last zoo m. it is navigable by steamers. Below the mouth of the Lomami there is a long stretch with no southern tributary, as t'he great plain within the Congo bend is drained by streams flowing in the same direction as the middle Congoeast to west. The Lulanga (or Lulongo), about 400 M. long, enters ino 40' N., 18 16' E. Its northern branch approaches within 20 in. of the Congo in its upper course. The main branch of the Ruki or Juapa, which enters a little north of the equator in 18 21' E., has its rise between 24 and 25 E. and about 3 S., in the swampy region traversed by the Lomami. On account of the colour of its water it was named by H. M. Stanley the Black river. It is about 60o m. long and has two large southern tributaries. A few miles above the Ruki confluence the Ikelemba (some 150 M. in length) joins the Congo. The three rivers, Lulanga, Ikelemba and Ruki, and their sub-streams, have between them over loon m. of navigable waters. No rapids intercept their course. Exploration.Unlike the Nile there are no classic associations with the Congo. A single mention made of the Zaire by Camoens in the Lusiads exhausts its connexion with literature (up to the beginning of the 19th century), other than in little known and semi-fabulous accounts of the ancient kingdom of Congo. The mouth of the river was discovered by the Portuguese naval officer Diogo Cao or Cam either in 1482 or 1483. To mark the discovery and to claim the land for the Portuguese crown he erected a marble pillar on what is now called Sharks Point. Hence the river was first called Rio de Padrao (Pillar river). It soon, however, became known as Zaire (q.v.), a corruption of a native word meaning " river," and subsequently as the Congo. In the three centuries succeeding Diogo Cao's discovery strangely little was done to explore the river. At length the British Admiralty took action, and in 1816 despatched Captain J. K. Tuckey, R.N., at the head of a well-equipped mission. The expedition was prompted by the suggestion that the Congo was identical with the Niger. So slight was the knowledge of the river at that time that .the only chart with any pretension to accuracy did not mark it farther than 130 M. from the mouth, a state of affairs, in the opinion of the admiralty, " little creditable to those Europeans who for nearly three centuries have occupied various parts of the coast " near the river's mouth. Captain Tuckey's expedition reached the mouth of the Congo on the 6th of July 1816, and managed to push up stream as far as Isangila, beyond the lowest series of rapids; but sickness broke out, the commander
Commander
Salvador ). In November 1872 an expedition under Lieutenant W. Grandy, R.N., was despatched from England for the purpose of advancing from the west coast to the relief of David Livingstone. So little was the Congo known, however, that Ambriz was chosen as the starting-point, and the expedition marched overland. After many vicissitudes Lieutenant Grandy had to retrace his steps. He reached, late in 1873, a point on the Congo below the cataracts and intended thence to push his way up stream. The death of Livingstone was soon afterwards reported; and in April 1874, just as Grandy was prepared to ascend the river, letters of recall brought the expedition to a close.It was by working down from its source that the riddle of the Congo was finally solved. In 1868 David Livingstone traced the course of the Chambezi to Lake Bangweulu. In March 1871 he reached the town of Nyangwe on the Lualaba, and died (1873) whilst endeavouring to trace the head-streams of that river, which he believed to be the Nile. " I have no fancy," he once said, " to be made into `black man's pot' for the sake of the Congo." Livingstone's views were not shared by the scientific world, and as early as 1872 geographers were able to affirm from Livingstone's own reports that the great river system he had explored in the region north of the Zambezi must belong to the Congo and not to the Nile. Actual proof was lacking, and of the course of the main river there was absolute ignorance. But in October 1876, H. M. Stanley arrived at Nyangwe from Zanzibar and from that point navigated the river over 1600 in. to Isangila " Tuckey's Furthest "reached in July 1877, thus demonstrating the identity of the Lualaba with the Zaire of the Portuguese. Stanley's great journey marked an epoch in the history of Africa, politically and commercially as well as geographically. Of the many travellers who followed Stanley in the Congo basin none did more to add to the exact knowledge of the main river and its greatest tributariesthe Ubangi, the Kasai and the Lomamithan the Rev. George Grenfell (1849-1906) of the Baptist Missionary Society. The Aruwimi was partly explored by Stanley in 1887 in his last expedition in Africa, and was further examined by Grenfell in 1894 and 1902. The western head-streams were largely made known by the Belgians, Capt. C. Lemaire and A. Delacommune, the last-named also mapping the upper Lomami and the Lukuga. (See also UBANGI; KASAI; LIVINGSTONE and STANLEY). See H. M. Stanley, Through the Dark Continent, &c. (London, 1878) ; George Grenfell, Map of the River Congo, with Memorandum (London, 1902) ; Sir H. H. Johnston, George Grenfell and the Congo (2 vols., London, 1908) ; C. Lemaire, Mission scientifique du Ka-Tanga (Brussels, 19011908) ; 17 memoirs, No. 16 being the Journal de route; J. K. Tuckey, Narrative of an Expedition to explore the river Zaire, &c. (London, 1818) ; E. Behm, " Proofs of the Identity of the Lualaba with the Congo " (Prot. Roy. Geo. Soc. vol. xvii., London, 1873) ; Le Mouvement geographique (Brussels, weekly since 1884), and the geographical works mentioned in the bibliography of the Congo Free State. Grenfell's map, scale 1.250,000, is of the river between Stanley Pool and Stanley Falls. For the lower river see H. Droogmans, Carte du Bas Congo, scale 1.1oo,000, and Notices sur le Bas Congo (Brussels, 1900-1902). (F. R. C.) End of Article: CONGO If you wish, you can link directly to this article.
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