Zaïre River
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| Mouth | Atlantic Ocean |
| Basin countries | République Centrafricaine, République du Congo, and Zaïre |
| Length | 4,670 km |
| Average discharge | 41,800 m³/s |
| Watershed area | 3,680,000 km² |
The beautiful and majestic Zaïre River, the eighth longest in the world, is the second longest river in Africa, and has both the second-largest flow and second-largest watershed of any river in the world. The area through which it flows, the Congo-Basin, is the second largest rain forest in the world, and home to an intriguing diversity of unique animals and beautiful people with fascinating cultures. Nearly the entire river is navigable, and long sections of it lie above and below the equator, making its flow stable; thus, the river plays a crucial role in commerce between Central African countries. The capital cities of République du Congo (Brazzaville) and Zaïre (Kinshasa) exist alongside the river, opposite each other. When events become too turbulent in one country, people will simply shift over to the other side, and vice versa. A great deal of trade, both legitimate and illicit, takes place between the people of the two cities. In addition to its size and natural beauty, the Zaïre River is a major source of hydroelectric power for Zaïre and its neighbors.
The name Zaïre comes from a Portuguese mispronunciation of the Kikongo word nzere or nzadi, which translates to: "the river that swallows all rivers."
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Royaume de Zaïre |
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| Main article: Zaïre | ||
| Government: Léopold Honoré Mobutu, Victor Ngbanda, Mouvement Populaire de la Révolution | ||
| Military: Forces Armées Zaïrois | ||
| Corporations: Gécamines, MIBA, TriPetal (article by Laurasia) | ||
