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Congo River
Sunrise near Mossaka (Congo).JPG
Congobasinmap.png
Location
Physical characteristics
SourceLualaba River
 - locationBoyoma Falls
MouthAtlantic Ocean
Length4,700 km (2,900 mi)
Basin size4,014,500 km2 (1,550,000 sq mi)
Discharge 
 - average41,200 m3/s (1,450,000 cu ft/s)
 - minimum23,000 m3/s (810,000 cu ft/s)
 - maximum75,000 m3/s (2,600,000 cu ft/s)

The great Congo River is the second longest river in Africa, shorter only than the Nile, as well as the second largest river in the world by discharge volume, following only the Amazon. It is also the world's deepest recorded river, with measured depths in excess of 220 m (720 ft). The Congo-Lualaba-Chambeshi River system has an overall length of 4,700 km (2,920 mi), which makes it the world's ninth-longest river. The Chambeshi is a tributary of the Lualaba River, and Lualaba is the name of the Congo River upstream of Boyoma Falls, extending for 1,800 km (1,120 mi).

Measured along with the Lualaba, the main tributary, the Congo River has a total length of 4,370 km (2,715 mi). It is the only river to cross the equator twice. The Congo Basin has a total area of about 4,000,000 km2 (1,500,000 sq mi), or 13% of the entire African landmass.

Name