Geography Democratic Republic of the Congo

1 geography

1.1 provinces
1.2 flora , fauna

1.2.1 bushmeat

geography


the map of democratic republic of congo



democratic republic of congo map of köppen climate classification

the democratic republic of congo (drc) located in central sub-saharan africa, bordered (clockwise southwest) angola, south atlantic ocean, republic of congo, central african republic, south sudan, uganda, rwanda, burundi, tanzania across lake tanganyika, , zambia. country lies between latitudes 6°n , 14°s, , longitudes 12° , 32°e. straddles equator, one-third north , two-thirds south. size of congo, 2,345,408 square kilometres (905,567 sq mi), greater combined areas of spain, france, germany, sweden, , norway. second largest country in africa area, after algeria.

as result of equatorial location, drc experiences high precipitation , has highest frequency of thunderstorms in world. annual rainfall can total upwards of 2,000 millimetres (80 in) in places, , area sustains congo rainforest, second-largest rain forest in world after amazon. massive expanse of lush jungle covers of vast, low-lying central basin of river, slopes toward atlantic ocean in west. area surrounded plateaus merging savannas in south , southwest, mountainous terraces in west, , dense grasslands extending beyond congo river in north. high, glaciated mountains (rwenzori mountains) found in extreme eastern region.

the tropical climate produced congo river system dominates region topographically along rainforest flows through, though not mutually exclusive. name congo state derived in part river. river basin (meaning congo river , of myriad tributaries) occupies entire country , area of 1,000,000 km (390,000 sq mi). river , tributaries form backbone of congolese economics , transportation. major tributaries include kasai, sangha, ubangi, ruzizi, aruwimi, , lulonga.

satellite image of democratic republic of congo

the sources of congo in albertine rift mountains flank western branch of east african rift, lake tanganyika , lake mweru. river flows west kisangani below boyoma falls, gradually bends southwest, passing mbandaka, joining ubangi river, , running pool malebo (stanley pool). kinshasa , brazzaville on opposite sides of river @ pool (see nasa image). river narrows , falls through number of cataracts in deep canyons, collectively known livingstone falls, , runs past boma atlantic ocean. river has second-largest flow , second-largest watershed of river in world (trailing amazon in both respects). river , 37 kilometres (23 mi) wide strip of coastline on north bank provide country s outlet atlantic.

the albertine rift plays key role in shaping congo s geography. not northeastern section of country more mountainous, due rift s tectonic activity, area experiences volcanic activity, loss of life. geologic activity in area created famous african great lakes, 3 of lie on congo s eastern frontier: lake albert (known during mobutu era lake mobutu sese seko), lake kivu (unknown until late 1712), lake edward (known during amin era lake idi amin dada), , lake tanganyika. lake edward , lake albert connected semliki river.

the rift valley has exposed enormous amount of mineral wealth throughout south , east of congo, making accessible mining. cobalt, copper, cadmium, industrial , gem-quality diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, germanium, uranium, radium, bauxite, iron ore, , coal found in plentiful supply, in congo s southeastern katanga region.

mount nyiragongo, last erupted in 2002.



salonga national park.

on 17 january 2002 mount nyiragongo erupted in congo, lava running out @ 64 km/h (40 mph) , 46 m (50 yd) wide. 1 of 3 streams of extremely fluid lava flowed through nearby city of goma, killing 45 , leaving 120,000 homeless. 4 hundred thousand people evacuated city during eruption. lava poisoned water of lake kivu, killing fish. 2 planes left local airport because of possibility of explosion of stored petrol. lava passed airport ruined runway, trapping several airplanes. 6 months after 2002 eruption, nearby mount nyamuragira erupted. mount nyamuragira erupted in 2006 , again in january 2010.

world wide fund nature ecoregions located in congo include:

central congolian lowland forests – home rare bonobo primate
the eastern congolian swamp forests along congo river
the northeastern congolian lowland forests, 1 of richest concentrations of primates in world
southern congolian forest-savanna mosaic
a large section of central zambezian miombo woodlands
the albertine rift montane forests region of high forest runs along eastern borders of country.

world heritage sites located in democratic republic of congo are: virunga national park (1979), garamba national park (1980), kahuzi-biega national park (1980), salonga national park (1984) , okapi wildlife reserve (1996).

provinces

the country divided city-province of kinshasa , 25 other provinces. provinces subdivided districts divided territories. before 2015, country had 11 provinces.

flora , fauna

the rainforests of democratic republic of congo contain great biodiversity, including many rare , endemic species, such common chimpanzee , bonobo, african forest elephant, mountain gorilla, okapi , white rhino. 5 of country s national parks listed world heritage sites: garumba, kahuzi-biega, salonga , virunga national parks, , okapi wildlife reserve. democratic republic of congo biodiverse african country.

the civil war , resulting poor economic conditions have endangered of biodiversity. many park wardens either killed or not afford continue work. 5 sites listed unesco world heritage in danger.

conservationists have particularly worried primates. congo inhabited several great ape species: common chimpanzee (pan troglodytes), bonobo (pan paniscus), eastern gorilla (gorilla beringei), , possibly western gorilla (gorilla gorilla). country in world in bonobos found in wild. concern has been raised great ape extinction. because of hunting , habitat destruction, chimpanzee, bonobo , gorilla, each of populations once numbered in millions, have dwindled down 200,000 gorillas, 100,000 chimpanzees , possibly 10,000 bonobos. gorillas, chimpanzees, , bonobos classified endangered world conservation union, okapi, native area.

bushmeat

over past century or so, drc has become center of has been called central african bushmeat problem, regarded many major environmental , socio-economic crisis. bushmeat word meat of wild animals, typically obtained through trapping, wire snares, or else shotguns, poisoned arrows or arms intended use in drc s numerous military conflicts.

the bushmeat crisis emerged result of poor living conditions of congolese people , lack of education dangers of eating it. rising population combined deplorable economic conditions made many congolese dependent on bushmeat, either income source (selling meat), or food. unemployment , urbanization throughout central africa have exacerbated problem further turning cities urban sprawl of kinshasa prime markets commercial bushmeat.

this combination has caused widespread endangerment of local fauna, , has forced humans trudge deeper wilderness in search of desired animal meat. overhunting results in deaths of more animals , makes resources more scarce humans. hunting has been facilitated extensive logging prevalent throughout congo s rainforests both corporate logging, , farmers clearing forest land agriculture. logging allows hunters easier access previously-unreachable jungle terrain, while simultaneously eroding away habitats of animals. deforestation accelerating in central africa.