Congo africa city post. The Republic of the Congo is a country in Central Africa. The deepest river on the continent

It borders with Gabon, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Angola. It has access to the Atlantic Ocean.

State symbols

Flag- is a rectangular panel with an aspect ratio of 2:3 with diagonal stripes of green, yellow and red (Pan-African colors). The flag was approved on August 18, 1958, canceled on December 30, 1960, re-approved on June 10, 1991.

Coat of arms- represents a shield, in the golden field of which there is a green wavy belt, covered with a scarlet rising lion with green weapons and a tongue, holding a black torch with a scarlet flame in its right paw; the shield is topped with a golden stylized crown with a black inscription on the hoop in French: "Republic of the Congo". The shield is supported by two black emerging African elephants, standing on a scarlet base, from which hangs a golden ribbon with the national motto in French: "Unity, Labor, Progress".

State structure

Form of government- presidential republic.
head of state- the president. Elected by the people for a 7-year term with the possibility of re-election for a second term.
Incumbent President 1979-1992 and since 1997 Denis Sassou Nguesso

Capital and largest city- Brazzaville.
official languages- French, Kituba, Lingala.
Territory- 342,000 km².
Administrative division– 12 departments, including the capital city of Brazzaville and the city of Pointe-Noire.

Population– 4,233,063 people It is one of the most sparsely populated countries in Africa. The smallest population lives in the northern regions of the country, which are completely covered with swamps and impenetrable wet forests. Most of the population belongs to the Bantu peoples; settlements of pygmies have been preserved in the dense forests. About half of the Congo's population lives in cities.
Religion- Christians (mostly Catholics) 50%, aboriginal cults 48%, Muslims 2%.
Currency- CFA franc.
Economy- the basis of the economy is the production and export of oil. Industry: oil extraction, cement production, timber, brewing, sugar, palm oil, soap, cigarette production. Agriculture: cassava (tapioca), cassava, sugarcane, rice, corn, peanuts, vegetables, coffee, cocoa. Export: oil, timber, sugar, cocoa, coffee, diamonds. Import: industrial products, building materials, food.

Education– primary education – 6 years of study. Junior secondary education takes 4 years (grades 7 to 10). Upon completion of this stage of education, students receive Brevet d "Etudes du Premier Cycle (BEPC).
3-year senior secondary education (grades 11-13). Upon completion of this stage, students take the Baccalaureat passing exam, which can be obtained in different fields of study, depending on the specialization.
Students who have not passed the specified exams receive the Certificat de Fin d "Etudes Secondaires, an academic certificate of attendance and grades received in the last academic year.
Technical secondary education - upon completion of junior secondary education 2-3 years.
To enter a university, it is enough to have a Baccalaureate.
Sport The most popular are football and basketball. The country competed in the 10th Summer Olympics, making its debut at the 1964 Tokyo Summer Olympics. Since then, it has competed in every Summer Games except Mexico City and Montreal. The Republic of the Congo did not participate in the Winter Olympics. Athletes from this country have never won Olympic medals.
Armed forces- regular armed forces, paramilitaries, gendarmerie, air force, navy. Collection on a voluntary basis.

Nature

Most of the country is occupied by the accumulative plains of the Congo Basin. This is the land of vast swamps and rivers - tributaries of the Congo and Ubangi.

Congo river
The largest valley of the river Niari is famous for its fertility. Further to the southwest rise the Mayombe Mountains, composed of granites, quartzites and schists, with an average height of 700–800 m. These mountains drop steeply to a coastal lowland 50–60 km wide, which is crossed by river valleys. The largest of them is the Kuimu River, a continuation of the Niari.
Climate equatorial. The maximum precipitation is from March to April. It is at this time that the maximum precipitation occurs.
In the northern and mountainous regions of the Congo, tropical rainforests are common, mostly swampy and periodically flooded. Tall grass savannas are common in the south.
Coffee plantations are the pride of the country.

Odzala National Park and Biosphere Reserve

Odzala Park is located in the southern part of the forest stretching from Gabon to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In the southern part, there is mainly a mixture of coniferous forest and savannah; in the north, a continuous forest is characteristic. A large area of ​​the park is covered with marshy forests.

bush elephant
The park is home to the bush elephant, African pygmy buffalo, bongo, western gorilla, common chimpanzee, lion, leopard, spotted hyena, large forest pig.

Big forest pig
440 species of birds, 330 of which nest and breed. Rare species include forest hoopoe, red-breasted pied-bellied hornbill, brown-cheeked chiffchaff, black-throated apalis, dark-backed cisticola, and yellow-capped weaver. The African forest robin, steppe kestrel, steppe tirkushka, great snipe and others also live in the park.

steppe kestrel
The national park was established in 1935. The vast forests located to the north, east and west of the park were annexed to it in 2001.

Tourism

Tourism in the country is practically not developed. This is partly due to the very uncomfortable climate for Europeans: high humidity against the backdrop of high temperatures. But the magnificent nature, the richest fauna, unique temples and museums gradually attract more and more travelers. Antelopes, giraffes, cheetahs, crocodiles, many species of birds and snakes are protected in national parks. These are the last habitats of the forest leopard and black gorillas.

culture

Modern literature (mainly in French) began to take shape in the 1950s.
Known for J. F. Chikaya U Tamsi (1931-1988), author of the books "Bad Blood" (1955), "Belly" (1964). Numerous anti-colonial works have been published.

Angie Lopez

One of the most famous representatives of modern African literature isAngie Lopez(b. 1937). This is a Congolese writer and politician. From 1949 to 1965 lived in France. From 1973 to 1975 served as Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of the Congo. His famous novels: Without Tam-Tama (1976), Laughter Through Tears (1984).

The traditional types of folk dwellings in different regions of the Republic of the Congo differ: in the savannah regions they are round, in the forest zone they are rectangular with gable roofs, in the Sanga River valley near the dwellings the roof is woven from twigs and branches and resembles a turtle shield in shape.
Buildings of the European type began to be built in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and some other cities in the second half of the 19th century.

Music usually accompanies religious ceremonies: the cult of ancestors, healing and calendar.
Popular woodcarving.

It decorates furniture, wooden household items, calabash (vessels made of dried pumpkin), earthenware, as well as masks and wooden sculptures and figurines.

Contemporary visual art of the Congo is a mixture of local characteristics and the French school of painting. Here and expressiveness, and dynamism, clarity and saturation of African colors. Gouache and watercolor are popular.

A feature of the national cuisine: an abundance of spices and herbs that are added to almost any dish: soups, meat or fish. A traditional dinner in the Congo begins with a rich thick soup seasoned with pepper, saffron, ginger, nutmeg or cloves. Capers, lemons and lots of greens are also added.
In the Congo, lamb with figs, camel and pigeon meat are popular. Often, stuffed or baked fish with cheese is served at the table.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Republic of the Congo

Sanga forest

A rainforest and a national park located on both banks of the African Sanga Regina on the territory of three states at once: the Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic and Cameroon.
The forest includes three national parks:
Lobeke in Cameroon;
Dzanga Sanga in the Central African Republic;
Nubale-Ndoki in the Republic of the Congo.
The landscape of the Sanga forest consists of deciduous evergreen rainforests, forest swamps and intermittently flooded wetlands, lakes, and several types of open savannahs. In addition to the natural beauty itself, the forest is valuable for the opportunity to conduct scientific research and hiking trips there.
This area is well preserved compared to many other areas in the Congo Basin due to the negligible human presence in it. And now economic activity in the forest is minimal, and the population density around it is low.
The forest is home to various species of animals, some of which are endemic, others rare or threatened with extinction. The Sangha River is home to large populations of the Nile crocodile and the carnivorous Big Tigerfish, which can reach a length of 1.33m.

Big tiger fish
African forest elephant populations, large populations of gorillas and chimpanzees, most of which have never met humans, several species of antelope (sitatunga and bongo), buffalo and several species of wild boar.

bongo antelope

Other sights of the Republic of the Congo

Brazzaville

Nabemba Tower
The capital and most populous city of the Republic of the Congo. Located on the right bank of the Congo River. The population is about 1.5 million people. This is one third of the population of the Republic of the Congo.
Brazzaville is the cultural center of the Republic of the Congo. It operates the largest number of primary, secondary and vocational schools in the country. Since 1972, the National University, the National Museum and the National Theater have been functioning.

Top attractions in Brazzaville include Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Anne, built in 1949, the mausoleum of the founder of the city, Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza, the museum of crafts, the presidential palace, the city hall building, the National Museum of the Congo. Notable buildings include the Nabemba Tower and the Air France office.

Nabemba Tower- high-rise building (30 floors). Designed by French architect Jean Marie Legrand and built in 1982-1986. It is named after the mountain of the same name, the highest in the territory of the Republic of the Congo. The tower houses the headquarters of the Elf-Congo oil company, various institutions, offices of international organizations, including UNESCO.

Monument to Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza

Story

In ancient times, the territory of the Congo was inhabited by pygmies who were engaged in hunting and gathering. Approximately in the VI-IX centuries. came the Bantu tribes, who currently make up 98% of the population.
The Bantu tribes were engaged in hoe, slash-and-burn agriculture and grew sorghum, legumes, and yams. They lived mainly in a primitive communal system, but some tribes already had slavery.
In 1482, Portuguese sailors under the command of Diogo Cana appeared at the mouth of the Congo River. At the beginning of the XVI century. The Portuguese began to export slaves bought from the coastal tribes from the Congo to Brazil.

Colonization

At the end of the XIX century. The French arrived in the Congo. In 1880, an officer of the French fleet, Pierre de Brazza, founded the post of Nkuna (Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of the Congo). By 1883, the French Congo was formed.
Since 1906, the territory of the modern Republic of the Congo, after the division of the French Congo, became part of the Middle Congo colony, then it was part of French Equatorial Africa. In 1947, the Congo was granted the status of an overseas territory of France, and since 1958, the status of an autonomous Republic within the French Community.

Independence of the Congo

Fulber Yulu
On August 15, 1960, the independence of the Republic of the Congo was proclaimed. The first president was Abbe Fulbert Yulu, who was ousted on August 15, 1963, in a powerful union-inspired protest against administrative corruption against the backdrop of a deteriorating economic situation.

Alphonse Massamba-Deba
On August 16, 1963, an interim government headed by Alphonse Massamba-Deba came to power, who in December 1963 became president. A course towards the construction of a socialist society was announced, a five-year plan was introduced, and the property of foreign companies was requisitioned.
In August 1968, Massamba-Deba was overthrown in a coup led by Captain Marian Nguabi. Nguabi announced the continuation of the course of building socialism according to the Soviet model. In 1969, he created the Congolese Labor Party - the ruling and the only one in the country. The country's parliament was abolished, its functions were taken over by the Central Committee of the CPT.
In March 1977, Nguabi was killed by supporters of the former ruler of the country, Massamba-Deba. Power was taken by the military committee of the CPT, headed by Joaquim Yombi-Opango. Ex-president Massamba-Deba was executed as the leader of the conspirators.
In March 1979, Colonel Denis Sassou-Nguesso became president of the Congo - party chairman, head of government and part-time minister of defense, minister of state security and minister of the interior. He, like his predecessors, continued the course of building Soviet-style socialism.

In 1990-1991 the ruling party, the CPT, lost the first multi-party elections and went into opposition.
Between 1992 and 1997 the country was ruled by weak coalition governments, resulting in political instability.
In 1997, mass clashes began between supporters of the main candidates, which escalated into a civil war. Neighboring countries took a significant part in the civil strife. The decisive role in the final victory of Sassou Nguesso was played by the Angolan army.
In 2001-2002 Sassou Nguesso led the process of restoring political liberalization, and in 2002 he was elected for a 7-year term as President of the Republic.

After all, it is the most full-flowing. In addition, she gave the name to two countries located on its shores at once, because of this, these two republics are even confused.

One of these countries is the Republic of the Congo, which is smaller and located to the west, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo has a huge area and is in the middle.

The first of the republics was formerly called the Middle Congo, while it was a French colony. After liberation from foreign power, it was called the People's Republic of the Congo.

The location is elongated, almost from north to south, along the Congo River. Accordingly, most of the lands are represented by accumulative plains characteristic of the local depression. There are also many swamps and various rivers that are tributaries of the Congo and others:

• Ubangi;
• Niari;
• Quim.

Therefore, the local shipping routes are huge, only they are often problematic due to swampiness, waterfalls and rapids interfere with this.

The climate here, as elsewhere in the Central equatorial. In the southern part, the situation is as follows:

• the driest - June-September, 21 degrees Celsius;
• the most humid - March-April, 30 degrees.

In the center, climatic features are different - the hottest is in January, and the wettest - in July. In the north, the Republic of the Congo is as humid and hot as possible.

In this republic, the majority of those fellow citizens who want to live in the city, not the village, come here. Also major cities are:

• Loubomo;
• Pointe Noire.

At the same time, these settlements are characterized by high rates of unemployment. And yet this country has features that distinguish it from other states in the region:

• education of adult citizens is about 63%;
• a large number of hired workers;
• the influence and organization of trade unions.

The second republic with the name Congo has the prefix "Democratic". During the period of colonization, it was subject to Belgium, then gained independence and became known as the Republic of Zaire. It acquired its current name in 1997.

In this republic, it is one of the largest African cities on the mainland. It attracts with its many faces and motleyness, but it also scares off many people due to the poverty existing in a large territory.

And the whole country is practically the poorest on the planet, and this is in the presence of the largest reserves of important natural resources:

• diamonds;
• cobalt;
• germanium;
• Uranus;
• copper;
• tin;
• tantalum;
• oil;
• silver;
• gold.

In addition to these deposits, there are other reserves, as well as a lot of forest resources and hydropower.

The long civil wars had a negative impact on the economy in many ways, after 2002 the situation began to improve, only slowly and irregularly.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has significant lands, but most of them have not yet been developed, this is due to the peculiarity of the climate - heat and humidity. However, thanks to this, the local nature has been preserved in an often untouched form.

Basically, there are flat landscapes, hills and mountains on the outskirts. The east of the country is rich in volcanoes, among which there are active and frozen ones. The territory is also rich in rivers and lakes, there are also picturesque waterfalls.

Such evergreen landscapes definitely attract tourists, but the animals that live in these conditions are more interesting. Their number is huge, here you can meet typical African inhabitants:

• lions;
• antelopes;
• giraffes;
• turtles;
• hyenas;
• zebras;
• crocodiles;
• hippos;
• lemurs.

Okapi is especially distinguished, as this species is beautiful and unusual.

A large number of birds, fish and insects are also here:

• ostriches;
• flamingos;
• bustards;
• perch;
• pike;
• termites;
• tsetse fly;
• bees;
• malarial mosquitoes.

The arrival in this republic will definitely become a landmark, because here you can get to know the essence of the whole nature of Central Africa, observing its inhabitants in their natural environment.

The number of citizens of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is increasing rapidly, as the birth rate is higher than the death rate. However, here rarely anyone lives to old age (at least up to 60 years), and this is largely affected by the difficult climate for life.

About a third of the population is urban, most often they prefer to go to Kinshasa. There are many nationalities in the country, each of which can speak their native language, but almost everyone understands French, which is a relic from the period of colonization.

Although the country has rich mineral deposits, the mining industry is unable to operate at full capacity due to the crisis. Therefore, the economy is kept at the current level thanks to agriculture. Massively grown such crops:

• cocoa;
• coffee;
• rubber;
• peanut;
• cotton;
• bananas.

These goods, as well as natural resources, are exported to different countries on all continents.

The climate of the Congo is hot and humid, in the north - equatorial, in the south - subequatorial. Average monthly temperatures around the country's capital, Brazzaville, exceed 26°C in April and around 22°C in July, but daytime temperatures in all months often exceed 30°C, while nighttime temperatures drop to 17–20°C. Almost everywhere, except for a narrow strip north of the equator, the year is divided into dry (May-September) and wet seasons (in some regions - into two dry and two wet). The most abundant rains are in March-April and in October-December. January-February is the so-called small dry season, when it rains less frequently. However, the humidity of the air remains very high in all months. The usual amount of precipitation is 1400-2000 mm per year, and only on the coast they fall somewhat less.

Geography

The coast of the ocean is not too picturesque and hospitable: the flat sandy coast is poorly protected from winds and waves, there are almost no bays and bays. To the east of the coastal lowland, 40–50 km wide, the low (300–500 m) Mayombe Mountains, composed of quartzites and crystalline schists, stretch parallel to the coast. To the east of them lies the wide depression Niari-Nyanga, the central low part of which has a characteristic karst relief with sinkholes and caves. In the north and east, this depression is bounded by the spurs of the Chaiu mountains (most of which are in Gabon) 700–800 m high, in the south by the sandstone plateau of the Cataracts. In the center of the country, the Bateke plateau rises, on which the highest point of the Congo is located - Mount Leketi (1040 m). In the northwest, there are elevated crystalline, slightly undulating plains with individual mountains, and the northeast is occupied by the vast, mostly marshy and flooded depression of the Congo. The Congo is also the main river of the country: almost all of its territory (except the southwest, where the main water artery is the Kvilu River) is irrigated by the right tributaries of the Congo (Ubangi, Sanga, Likvala, Alima, etc.), full-flowing and stormy, with many waterfalls. There are waterfalls on the Congo itself - Livingstone waterfalls near the southeastern border of the country.

Flora and fauna

About half of the territory of the Congo is covered by tropical forests, which are a mixture of evergreen and deciduous trees. The forests form three continuous massifs: the entire north of the country (the Congo depression, the main surface of which is occupied by swampy, periodically flooded forests, and the plateaus framing it), on the spurs of the Shayu and in the Mayombe mountains. In the rest of the territory, the forests were at different times destroyed by man and replaced by savannahs and agricultural lands. In the national parks of Odzala, Lefini and others, a fairly rich fauna is preserved: elephants, hippos, buffaloes, leopards, numerous monkeys, including chimpanzees and gorillas. Diverse birds and reptiles.

Population of the Congo

Congo is one of the sparsely populated African countries. As of 2016, 5,125,821 people live here. Covered with forests and swamps, the northern regions of the country are practically uninhabited (with the exception of a few administrative centers). Almost the entire population of the Congo belongs to the peoples of the Bantu language group - Kongo, Teke, Mboshi and Mbete. Each of these groups is a conglomeration of several related peoples and tribes, nevertheless differing in language and culture. The main occupations of the inhabitants are cattle breeding, agriculture, and the harvesting of valuable species of wood. In the depths of the forests, the settlements of the smallest people on earth, the Pygmies, who live mainly by hunting, have been preserved.

Big cities

The largest city and capital of the country is Brazzaville, founded in 1880, but the large seaport of Pointe-Noire is considered the economic capital. Other relatively large cities are Jacob and Luombo. The peculiar culture of the peoples of the Congo in recent decades has been enriched with new directions: for example, the poto-poto style (named after the old African quarter of Brazzaville) has become famous in painting - paintings depicting scenes of folk life are made in bright colors, people's figures are elongated, stylized and extremely dynamic.

History of the Congo

Initially, the territory of the Congo was inhabited by pygmies. Later came the Bantu peoples, who now make up about 98% of the population.

From the 15th century, the Portuguese began to export slaves from the Congo to Brazil. In 1880-1960 - the territory of modern Congo was a colony of France as part of French Equatorial Africa. In 1958, the colony was granted autonomy within the French Community, and two years later independence was proclaimed.

In 1963, the country's leadership was overthrown as a result of a powerful protest against corruption in the administrative apparatus, inspired by trade unions, against the backdrop of a deteriorating economic situation. Between 1963 and 1990, the country was ruled by "leftist" regimes, mostly pro-Soviet. The period from the late 60s to the mid 70s was marked by significant political instability and a number of military coups. In 1979, General Denis Sassou Nguesso came to power, during the 11-year period of his reign, a significant pragmatization of the political course was noted - proclaiming loyalty to Marxism, Sassou Nguesso was economically oriented towards France and the United States.

In 1990-1991, in the country, as well as on the continent as a whole, there was a significant democratization of political life. The ruling party, the CPT, lost the first multi-party elections and went into opposition. Between 1992 and 1997, the country was ruled by weak coalition governments, and the result of the continuing deterioration of the economic situation of the Congo was again political instability.

In 1997, on the eve of the elections, mass clashes began between supporters of the main candidates, which then escalated into a civil war. Neighboring countries took a significant part in the civil strife; the Angolan army played a decisive role in the final victory of Sassou Nguesso. Small-scale insurgent activity continues to the present.

In 2001-2002, Sassou Nguesso legitimized his tenure in power as part of the process of restoring political life, and in 2002 he was elected president for a seven-year term.

Economy

The Republic of the Congo is a country where most of the population is employed in agriculture.

Agriculture provides 5.6% of GDP. It is focused mainly on the domestic market. The main consumer crops are cassava (900 thousand tons), bananas (88 thousand tons) and yams (12 thousand tons). Sugarcane (460 thousand tons), oil palm, coffee (1.7 thousand tons), cocoa, tobacco are grown for export on plantations.

Industry provides 57.1% of GDP. The main industry is the oil industry. There are high quality iron ore reserves. The manufacturing industry is represented by light industry (production of cigarettes, cement, footwear, soap) and food industry (production of beer and drinks, canned food, sugar, flour). An oil refinery operates in Pointe-Noire.

The surface of the Democratic Republic of the Congo resembles a huge dish, slightly inclined towards the Atlantic Ocean: in the middle (the lowest part of the territory) is the Congo depression, and along the edges is a closed ring of uplands. The bottom of the depression is a swampy plain formed by the Congo River and its tributaries, and is bordered by an amphitheater of terraces and a plateau with a height of 500 to 1000 m. In the southwest, the depression is separated from the ocean by the South Guinea Upland. In the south of the depression, near the watershed of the Congo and Zambezi rivers, the height is even higher - 1200–1500 m. In the southeast, the flat-topped massifs of the Mitumba mountains, the Manika and Kundegungu plateaus rise. The eastern part of the country - the outskirts of the East African Plateau - is the most elevated. Here, from north to south, a giant arc stretches the system of deep depressions of the East African Rift Zone, in which the chain of the Great African Lakes is located: Mobutu-Sese-Seko, Edward, Kivu, Tanganyika, Mweru. The mountain ranges surrounding the depressions rise up to 2–3 thousand m, the Rwenzori massif crowned with snow with the third highest peak in Africa - Margherita Peak (5109 m) stands out in particular. Between lakes Eduarda and Kivu there is a massif of Virunga with high seismicity: it includes more than 100 volcanoes. The highest of them - Karisimbi (4507 m), has already died out, but the volcanoes Nyiragongo (3450 m) and Nyamlagira have erupted many times over the past century (one of the most powerful eruptions occurred in 1977).

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has the densest river network in Africa. The rivers, fed by rains and underground springs, are full of water, full of rapids and waterfalls. The largest and most famous waterfalls are the picturesque multi-stage Venus Staircase waterfall on the Isahe River (Upper Zaire), the Guillaume Falls on the three branches of the Kwango River, the 340-meter Kaloba Falls on the Lovoi River, the seven-stage Stanley Falls (upper Congo), as well as a cascade of 70 waterfalls of Livingston in the lower reaches of the Congo near the ocean. Many rivers in the upper reaches flow in narrow gorges among rocks up to 400 m high, forming rapid rapids (for example, Port d'Anfer - "Hell's Gate" - in the upper Congo near the city of Kongolo), but in the middle and lower reaches they are calmer and more navigable .

The climate of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is predominantly equatorial, constantly humid, in the southern half and on the northern outskirts - subequatorial. Average air temperatures are 25–28 °C, but daily fluctuations reach 10–15 °C. Precipitation in the equatorial zone falls 1700-2200 mm per year, especially heavy rains come from March to May and from September to November. Equatorial showers in these months are strong, but short-lived (usually in the afternoon). Further from the equator (to the south and north), dry periods are more pronounced: in the north from March to November, in the south - from October–November to March–April. Precipitation is less - up to 1200 mm. It is cooler in the mountains, and more precipitation falls - up to 2500 mm.

Flora and fauna

More than half of the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is covered with evergreen tropical rain forests, in which about 50 especially valuable tree species and hundreds of others grow. As you move away from the equator, forests become thinner and grow mainly along river valleys. Sometimes the crowns of trees close over a narrow riverbed, forming a green tunnel or gallery, from which their name comes - gallery forests. Tall-grass savannahs with sparsely growing trees (the so-called park savannah) predominate in the south and the far north. In the mountains at low altitudes, the vegetation is the same as on the plains, but conifers (podocarpus, junipers) and tree ferns appear in the forests; at an altitude of 3000–3500 m, thickets of bamboo and tree-like heather predominate, and higher mountain meadows begin.

The fauna of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is exceptionally diverse: the equatorial forests of the central basin are inhabited by lemurs and monkeys, small antelopes, warthogs, okapi (ungulates related to giraffes, but with a shorter neck and a rear body color resembling a zebra). In one of the national parks - Kahuzi-Biegu - you can observe mountain gorillas. The savannah is inhabited by antelopes, gazelles, giraffes, elephants, rhinos (including the rare white rhino), lions, leopards, hyenas. Lots of lizards, turtles and snakes (many of them, like the black and green mambas, are very poisonous). Of the birds in open spaces, there are ostriches, bustards, guinea fowls, and in the forests - peacocks, parrots, hoopoes, woodpeckers. Rivers and lakes abound with fish - there are up to a thousand of their species. Almost 15% of the territory is occupied by reserves and national parks, the most famous of which are Virunga, Upemba, Garamba, North Salonga and South Salonga.

Population

In terms of population - 78,736,153 people. (2016) - The Democratic Republic of the Congo is one of the five most populous African countries, but the distribution of inhabitants across the territory is uneven: forests are practically uninhabited, and the population density of the eastern lakeshore is a hundred times higher. The ethnic composition of the population is very complex: more than 200 peoples and small ethnic communities live here. Most of them belong to the Bantu language group (Bakombo, Bapende, Bayaka and others). The Bantu are predominantly agricultural peoples, cattle are bred only in the eastern, tsetse-free areas. Bantu are skilled artisans, famous for metal products, woodcarving (figurines of the Bakuba people, Bapende masks), inlaid musical instruments, etc. known for pottery, the manufacture of pinga throwing knives, and the construction of fortifications. The next largest group of peoples - the Nilotic people, living on the border with Uganda and Sudan, are mainly engaged in cattle breeding. Pygmy tribes live in the equatorial forests.

Largest cities

The capital of the country - Kinshasa (about 12 million inhabitants) - is the economic center of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the largest transport hub. The city center has a completely European look. Against the backdrop of modern buildings, the Cathedral of St. Anna, built in 1919 in neo-Gothic style and surrounded by a park with a complex of buildings of the same style. A beautiful view of the city and its surroundings opens from Mount Ngaliema. There are many hotels in the city, the most original of which is Okapi, consisting of one-story houses connected by covered galleries. The main port of the Democratic Republic of the Congo - Matadi - is located on the rocky bank of the Congo River. The port city of Boma was the capital of the medieval Songo Empire. The city of Likasi, located in the valley, is picturesque, where there are several scientific institutes and a mineralogical museum. One of the oldest cities is Kisangani, founded by G. Stanley in 1883. Other major cities are Ngungu, Lubumbashi, Kolwezi, Kananga, Mbuji Mayi, Bukavu, Mbandaka, Bandundu.

What does each of us imagine when we hear the word "Congo"? Black people in Or maybe the expanses of the savannas? Or a full-flowing African river, in which large alligators are found? It turns out that this word has several meanings. It's time to find out what Congo is.

Meaning of the word

People living in Central Africa. Its other name is "bakongo".

The language of the people belonging to the Bantu language group. Its other name is "kikingo".

The river in Is the largest on this mainland, and in terms of water content and basin area - the second river in the world.

Depression in the Congo Basin.

Democratic Republic, formerly known as Zaire. The capital is the city of Kinshasa.

A republic that was a former colony of France. The capital is the city of Brazzaville.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

The country is located in Central Africa, the capital is the city of Kinshasa. It borders countries such as the Central African Republic, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Angola, Zambia and the Republic of the Congo. Africa is home to the least developed and developing countries of the world. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is among the first. According to the IMF for 2012, it is the poorest state on our planet.

Why is this republic lagging behind in its development? First of all, because it was a colonial country for a long time. Relatively recently, in 1960, the state ceased to depend on the developed European country of Belgium. Prior to that, the republic was its colony. The second thing that hinders the country is the climate of the Congo (Republic). It is mostly equatorial, which means that it is always hot here. The sizzling sun burns the crops of the population's crops. A sufficient amount of precipitation falls only on the banks of the rivers. The development of animal husbandry is hampered by the accumulations of tsetse flies observed here, which carry dangerous diseases.

History of the country's development

Many centuries ago, the territory of the modern republic was inhabited by tribes of pygmies. These undersized inhabitants of Africa lived mainly in forests, hunting and gathering.

In the II millennium BC. e. the country of the Congo became a haven for the agricultural tribes of the Bantu. These peoples were engaged in agriculture. They brought agriculture and metallurgy here with them. They knew how to make iron tools. The Bantu created the first states in this territory, one of which was called the Kingdom of the Kongo. It originated in the 14th century. Its capital was the city of Mbanza-Kongo (now San Salvador). At the end of the 15th century, the Portuguese arrived in this area. They came to the mouth of the Congo River. From here begins the black page of the slave trade in our history. Soon after the Portuguese to Africa, other European powers rushed for "profitable goods." The slave trade has become the most profitable means of enriching the developed countries. The entire territory of the African continent was soon divided between European countries into colonies. From the Kingdom of the Congo, slaves were exported mainly to work on the plantations of America. In 1876, the Belgians entered the territory of the state. Since 1908, this country has become a colony of this European power. The enslaved peoples had to wait more than 50 years to gain independence. It happened in 1960. A year earlier, the National Movement here, led by won the elections to the local parliament. In 1971, the Republic of the Congo was renamed Zaire. In 1997, it received its current name.

Population

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is home to just over 70 million people. The country is agricultural. Therefore, most of the population lives in villages.

Citizens make up only 34% of the total number of people. The average life expectancy here is low: for women - 57 years, for men - 53 years. This is due to the difficult economic situation in the republic. Also, the low level of medicine contributes to the high mortality of the population. Its ethnic composition is very rich: more than 200 different nationalities live here, among which the main groups are Bantu, Luba, Mongo, Mangbetu-Azande and Kongo. The official language is French.

Economy of the country

As mentioned above, this state is the poorest in the world. And this despite the fact that the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the leader in the presence of many minerals in the bowels of the earth. Here are the largest reserves of cobalt, tantalum, germanium, diamonds, copper, zinc, tin and so on. There are large deposits of oil, iron ore, coal, gold and silver. Plus, the property of this country is its forests and water resources. Despite all this, the state remains an agrarian country.

And they are mainly engaged in crop production. Sugar, coffee, tea, palm oil, quinine, bananas and other fruits, corn, root crops are exported from the country every year. In 2002, there was a strong economic growth. However, since 2008, it has slowed down due to falling demand and prices for export goods.

Republic of the Congo

This country is also located in Central Africa. Its capital is the city of Brazzaville. It borders such states as Cameroon, Gabon, the Central African Republic, Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The climate here is mainly equatorial and only in the south - subequatorial. It is always very humid in the north of the country.

The history of development

Once upon a time, pygmies lived on the territory of the modern country. Then the Bantu peoples came here, engaged in hoe and slash-and-burn agriculture. They grew yams, legumes, sorghum. In 1482, the country of the Congo became the site of a Portuguese expedition. And in the 15th century, the French came here, who concluded a protectorate treaty with all the coastal tribes. From 1885 to 1947, this state was a colony of France, which not only exported slaves from here, but also mined copper ore here. In 1960, the country was able to achieve independence from the European powers. Then the world knew what the Congo was. The first president here was Fulber Yulu, who was soon ousted from this post. Ahead of the country were waiting for several coups, during which power passed from one successor to another.

Climate, flora and fauna: description

Congo is an amazing country. If we say in a few words about its climate, then it will look like this: it is constantly humid and hot here. There are two rainy seasons in the republic: from January to March and from April to May. The coolest months are July and August. Half of the territory is occupied by equatorial tropical forests.

The flora here is very widely represented: mahogany, limba, sapels, palm trees, chitola, ayus and much more. The animal world is also rich. Buffaloes, elephants, hippos, leopards, monkeys, snakes, birds live here.

Economy and culture

Tourism is underdeveloped in the Republic of the Congo. The peculiarities of its climate, which is unfavorable for Europeans, do not allow the development of this sector of the economy. The basis of the profitability of the country's economy is the production and export of oil. Agriculture is poorly developed here. They grow mainly tapioca, rice, corn, sugarcane, cocoa, coffee and vegetables. It also produces soap, cigarettes, beer and cement. Most of these goods are exported. The largest buyers of this country's products are America, China and France.

Population culture

The local population here has a very rich original folklore. Songs and folk dances are its foundation. The craftsmen of this country are engaged in wooden carving. It covers not only pottery, various objects, furniture, pumpkin vessels. There are also many talented artists here who create their paintings based on local traditions.

Full-flowing Congo - the second longest river on the mainland

The mysterious continent of Africa hides many mysteries. One of them is the Congo River, which crosses the equator twice.

So far, it has been little studied. In the upper course, it is called Lualaba. It is near the settlement of Mumen. Lualaba is a river with a changeable "character". Rapids, through which water flows rapidly, alternate with flat and calm areas. Below the city of Kongolo, where the gorge of Porte meets it, it forms rapids and waterfalls. The most beautiful of them are located under the equator. They are called Stanley Falls. After them, the river is already called the Congo. In its average course, it becomes more calm. The mouth of the Congo River is the Atlantic Ocean.

"terrible" and "beautiful"

It is difficult to describe in words the impression that this river makes on the traveler. The novelist, in his book The Heart of Darkness, said that to find yourself here is like returning to "the beginnings of the world, when vegetation raged on the earth and giant trees soared." What is the Congo (river) in the equatorial forest, where does it originate? hell: impenetrable thickets of huge 60-meter oaks, ebony trees and heveas, under the crowns of which eternal twilight reigns. And below, in the darkness, in the warm waters of the river, danger lurks at every step: crocodiles, cobras, pythons. Add to this the terrifying heat and unbearable humidity, swarms of mosquitoes. And yet, the Congo River is striking in its grandeur and beauty. She runs at great speed. At the mouth of the river, where it flows into the Atlantic Ocean, one can see a large reddish-brown patch of rocks that the river carries from the very savannahs. Its waters are full of fish. Tilapia, Nile elephant, Berbel, freshwater herring, tiger fish and more are caught here. In total, more than 1000 different species of commercial fish live here. Several large hydroelectric stations have been built on the river, the largest of which is called Inga.

We learned about what Congo is. It turned out that this word has several meanings: it is the largest river in Africa, and two completely different states. We described each of these objects in detail.