Democratic Republic of Congo

Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) has an area of 2,345,410 km² and a populaion of 65.8 million in 2007. About 80% of the Congolese population are Christian, predominantly Roman Catholic.

Location

The Congo is situated at the heart of the west-central portion of sub-Saharan Africa and is bounded by (clockwise from the southwest) Angola, the South Atlantic Ocean, the Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, the Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania across Lake Tanganyika, and Zambia.

Geography

Geography ranges from tropical rain forest in the Congo River basin to tropical wet-and-dry in the southern uplands to tropical highland in eastern areas above 2,000 m in elevation. The country enjoys access to the ocean through a 40 km stretch of Atlantic coastline at Muanda and the roughly 9 km wide mouth of the Congo river which opens into the Gulf of Guinea.

Capital

Kinshasa

Climate

The highest and least variable temperatures are to be found in the equatorial forest, where daytime highs range between 30°C and 35°C, and nighttime lows rarely go below 20°C. The average annual temperature is about 25°C.

Language

French, (Lingala, Kongo language, Swahili, Tshiluba were national languages).

Monetary Unit

Zaire

Largest Cities

Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Kolwezi, Mbuji-Mayi, Kisangani, Kananga, Likasi, Boma, Tshikapa, Bukavu, Mwene-Ditu, Kikwit, Mbandaka.

Main rivers

Congo River (also known as the Zaire River) is the second longest river in Africa. It has a length of 4,700 km with it's mouth at Atlantic Ocean. The tributaries Congo river of are Sangha, Ubangi, Giri, Uele, Mbomou, Lomami, Luvua, Luapula, Fimi, Bombo, Nzadi.

Places to Visit

May-Ya-Moto hot springs, Boyoma Falls.

Air Ports

Goma, Kinshasa, Kisangani and Lubumbashi are the main international airports. Domeastic airports (229) include Kempile, Kenge, Kerekere, Kiapupe, Kikongo, Kikwit, Kilomines, Kindu, Kinshasa, Kipushia, Kisenge, Kolwezi, Kutusongo, Lisala.