Navigability, however, is limited by an insurmountable obstacle: a series of 32 cataracts over the river’s lower course, including the famous Inga Falls. These cataracts render the Congo unnavigable between the seaport of Matadi, at the head of the Congo estuary, and Malebo Pool, a lakelike expansion of the river.

Congo’s generally poor transportation infrastructure is a major factor in its economic underdevelopment, a situation exacerbated by years of civil conflict. The Congo River and its tributaries, historically a chief means of transportation in the country, serve as the main transport arteries.

This long river system has a unique anatomy that divides it into three distinct regions: the upper, middle and lower Congo. The upper is made up of tributaries and rapids, the middle is mostly a steady stream, and the lower consists of gorges and falls, which can make it dangerous.

The most important form of transportation in the Democratic Republic of Congo is the waterways since the construction of roads and railways in the country has been extremely difficult due to the hilly terrain and swampy areas of the Congo Basin.

Transport in the Republic of the Congo includes land, air and water transportation. The country’s rail system was built by forced laborers during the 1930s and largely remains in operation. There are also over 1,000 km of paved roads and two major international airports (Maya-Maya Airport and Pointe Noire Airport).

River Congo is Known as Highway of central Africa because entire river is readily navigable . Much of the trade of central Africa passes through it. Where there are no railways or roads river Congo acts as a life line.

Name any famous large mammal and chances are that it is found inside or close to the Congo River Basin forests. Elephants, gorillas, chimpanzees and okapi, all are residents of this vast area, where more than 400 species of mammals are found.

At its deepest point, the V-shaped canyon walls are 1100 meters tall, and the maximum width of the canyon is about 9 miles. At the bottom of the continental slope, it enters the Congo deep-sea fan and extends for an additional 220 km.

In a country with few paved roads, boarding an overcrowded boat on a treacherous river is a way of life. This weekend, journeys on the dangerous waterways stole the lives of up to 270 people.

The northern part of the river, known as the Niger bend, is an important area because it is the major river and source of water in that part of the Sahara desert. This made it the focal point of trade across the western Sahara, and the centre of the Sahelian kingdoms of Mali and Gao.

Cards

The main items traded were gold and salt. The gold mines of West Africa provided great wealth to West African Empires such as Ghana and Mali. Other items that were commonly traded included ivory, kola nuts, cloth, slaves, metal goods, and beads.

Ghana itself was rich in ​gold​. People wanted gold for its beauty, but they needed salt in their diets to survive. Salt, which could be used to preserve food, also made bland food tasty. These qualities made salt very valuable.

A profitable trade had developed by which West Africans exported gold, cotton cloth, metal ornaments, and leather goods north across the trans-Saharan trade routes, in exchange for copper, horses, salt, textiles, and beads. Later, ivory, slaves, and kola nuts were also traded.

Travelling across the Sahara desert, the Muslim traders of North Africa dealt with the West Africans. The West Africans exchanged their local products like gold, ivory, salt and cloth, for North African goods such as horses, books, swords and chain mail.

Many people in West Africa still live in extended families made up of parents, children, grandparents, and sometimes aunts, uncles, and cousins. West African music has become popular around the world and has influenced contemporary Western music. …