Congo River

Africa · rivers · nature

Super deep water. The Congo River is the world's deepest river, plunging down to about 720 feet in some spots. That is deeper than most other rivers get anywhere on the planet.

Massive length. At nearly 3,000 miles long, the Congo is Africa's second-longest river, beaten only by the Nile. If you stretched it across the United States, it would almost reach from coast to coast.

Enormous discharge. The Congo dumps more water into the ocean than nearly any other river except the Amazon. It releases so much water that it turns the Atlantic Ocean's color near its mouth.

The longest system. When you count all of the Congo's tributary rivers by their full names, the whole system stretches 4,700 kilometers and is the world's ninth-longest river system overall.

Through the jungle. The Congo River flows through the heart of Africa's vast rainforests, creating highways of water through some of the wildest places on Earth.