Congo river

 The Congo River forms in the southern-most part of the DRC where the
Lualaba and Luvua Rivers meet. The Congo then flows to Stanley Falls,
near Kisangani, a point just north of the Equator before taking on a
counterclockwise course. The Congo loops first to the northeast, then
to the west, and then to the south before reaching an outlet into the
Atlantic Ocean, feeding a river basin that covers over 1.6 million
square miles (4.1 million sq. km). At the outlet into the Atlantic
Ocean, the Congo can dispose of up to 1.2 million cubic feet (34,000 cu
m) of water per second.

Within the Congo's banks can be found over 4,000 islands, more than 50
of which are at least 10 miles (16 km) in length. It is because of
these islands that some stretches of the Congo are unnavigable. It has
been estimated that almost 250 mi (400 km) of the Congo are unnavigable
due to these islands plus a number of cataracts, in particular at
Livingstone Falls.

Due to the fact that the Congo
has many tributaries, the Congo River is the biggest transportation
source in Central Africa. The Ubangi River is a major tributary, along
with the Aruwimi, Kasai, and Lomami Rivers. The Congo River and all the
streams that contribute to it together account for over 9,000 miles
(14,500 km) of navigable routes across Central Africa.