Democratic Republic of Congo


Map of Democratic Republic of Congo	View Larger Map

The Democratic Republic of Congo is a country located in Central Africa. It is bounded by the Republic of Congo and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Zambia to the south-east, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda to the east, Angola to the south-west, Sudan to the north-east and the Central African Republic to the north. Covering a total area of 905,355 square miles, the Democratic Republic of Congo is the eleventh-largest country in the world. It is the fourth-most populous nation in Africa; the estimated population is over 71 million.

There are around 200 ethnic communities in the country. Mongo, Kongo, Luba and Mangbetu-Azande are the four principal tribes.

Kinshasa is the capital city of the country. It is the largest city of the country covering an area of 3,847.5 square miles. The estimated population of the city is 10,076,099.

Before the European colonisation from the 1870s until the 1920s, Congo was ruled by King Leopold II who brutally exploited the country. In 1908, the Belgian parliament took over the Free State as a Belgian colony. The beginning of the twentieth century was marked by tension and chaos as the country plunged in many wars. Peace was restored when Congo was declared an independent state by Belgium on June 30, 1960.

Today, Congo functions in the framework of a semi-presidential Republic where the President holds the highest office. Joseph Kbila is the current President. Adolphe Muzito is the Prime Minister of the nation.

Mining industry and agriculture are the two main economic sectors of Democratic Republic of Congo. The country exports cobalt, coffee, copper, and diamonds. Congo is the largest producer of cobalt ore in the world.

Belgium, Luxembourg, France, the USA, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Japan and the United Kingdom are the major trading partners.

The Symphonies Naturelles, Kisantu Botanical Gardens, the Central Market of Matonge, and the AAC Bonobo Nursery Sanctuary are the major attractions in the country. Nyiragongo Volcano is one of the most-visited places due to its history of having erupted several times over the past few decades; the volcano contains a bubbling lake of lava within its enormous crater.

The country is also home to the second-biggest freshwater lake in the world, Lake Tanganyika. The Lake attracts a number of divers and snorkellers.

The Sarawak Chamber in Malaysia is the largest cave in the world is 2300 feet (701 meters) long, 1300 feet (400 meters) wide, and more than 230 feet (70 meters) high.

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