Lualaba River
Encyclopedia
The Lualaba River is the greatest headstream of the Congo River
by volume of water. However, by length the Chambeshi River
is the farthest headstream. The Lualaba is 1800 km long, running from near Musofi in the vicinity of Lubumbashi
in Katanga Province
. The whole of its length lies within the Democratic Republic of Congo. It rises at an elevation of 1400 m above sea level and flows northwards to Kisangani
, where the Congo River
officially begins. The Lualaba River's source is on the Katanga Plateau
; it then descends to the Manika Plateau, with waterfalls and rapids marking the descent. As it drops to the Kamalondo Trough (457 m in 72 km), it is harnessed for hydroelectric power at Nzilo Dam near Nzilo Falls. At Bukama
the river becomes navigable for about 640 km through a series of marshy lakes (including Lake Upemba
and Lake Kisale).
The river is joined from the east by the Luvua River
opposite Ankoro
. Some geographers call the combined stream below this point the "Upper Congo".
Below Kongola, the river becomes unnavigable as it enters a narrow gorge, Portes d'Enfer. Between Kasongo
and Kibombo, the river is navigable for about 100 km, before rapids make it unnavigable again at Kindu-Port-Empain. The river's end is marked by the Boyoma Falls
, made up of seven cataracts over a stretch of 100 km between Ubundu
and Kisangani
.
The Lualaba serves as the northern and western boundary of the Upemba National Park
in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Lualaba was once considered a possibility for the source of the Nile
, until Henry Morton Stanley
journeyed down it and proved that it drained into the Atlantic Ocean
. French colonial governor Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza
also explored the Lualaba.
Towns along the Lualaba include the following:
Congo River
The Congo River is a river in Africa, and is the deepest river in the world, with measured depths in excess of . It is the second largest river in the world by volume of water discharged, though it has only one-fifth the volume of the world's largest river, the Amazon...
by volume of water. However, by length the Chambeshi River
Chambeshi River
The Chambeshi River of northeastern Zambia is the most remote headstream of the Congo River and therefore considered its source...
is the farthest headstream. The Lualaba is 1800 km long, running from near Musofi in the vicinity of Lubumbashi
Lubumbashi
Lubumbashi is the second largest city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, second only to the nation's capital Kinshasa, and the hub of the southeastern part of the country. The copper-mining city serves as the capital of the relatively prosperous Katanga Province, lying near the Zambian border...
in Katanga Province
Katanga Province
Katanga Province is one of the provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Between 1971 and 1997, its official name was Shaba Province. Under the new constitution, the province was to be replaced by four smaller provinces by February 2009; this did not actually take place.Katanga's regional...
. The whole of its length lies within the Democratic Republic of Congo. It rises at an elevation of 1400 m above sea level and flows northwards to Kisangani
Kisangani
Kisangani is the capital of Orientale Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is the 3rd largest urbanized city in the country and the largest of the cities that lie in the tropical woodlands of the Congo....
, where the Congo River
Congo River
The Congo River is a river in Africa, and is the deepest river in the world, with measured depths in excess of . It is the second largest river in the world by volume of water discharged, though it has only one-fifth the volume of the world's largest river, the Amazon...
officially begins. The Lualaba River's source is on the Katanga Plateau
Katanga Plateau
The Katanga, or Shaba, Plateau is a farming and ranching region in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Located in the southwestern Katanga Province, it reaches heights of 3,000 to 6,000 feet. Also, it is near the city of Songye....
; it then descends to the Manika Plateau, with waterfalls and rapids marking the descent. As it drops to the Kamalondo Trough (457 m in 72 km), it is harnessed for hydroelectric power at Nzilo Dam near Nzilo Falls. At Bukama
Bukama
Bukama is a town in Haut-Lomami District of south-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. As of 2009 it had an estimated population of 42,718....
the river becomes navigable for about 640 km through a series of marshy lakes (including Lake Upemba
Lake Upemba
Lake Upemba is a lake in Bukama, Haut-Lomami District, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It, and nearby Lake Kisale, is surrounded by the Upemba Depression in Upemba National Park...
and Lake Kisale).
The river is joined from the east by the Luvua River
Luvua River
The Luvua River is a river in the Katanga Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo . It flows from the northern end of Lake Mweru on the Zambia-Congo border in a northwesterly direction for to its confluence with the Lualaba River opposite the town of Ankoro...
opposite Ankoro
Ankoro
Ankoro is a town in Haut-Katanga District, Democratic Republic of the Congo.It lies on the west bank of the Lualaba River opposite the point where it is joined by the Luvua River.-Civil war:...
. Some geographers call the combined stream below this point the "Upper Congo".
Below Kongola, the river becomes unnavigable as it enters a narrow gorge, Portes d'Enfer. Between Kasongo
Kasongo
Kasongo is a town and territory in Maniema Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. It lies east of the Lualaba River, northwest of its confluence with the Luama River, at an altitude of 2188 ft . Kasongos population is approximately 63,000. The town is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese...
and Kibombo, the river is navigable for about 100 km, before rapids make it unnavigable again at Kindu-Port-Empain. The river's end is marked by the Boyoma Falls
Boyoma Falls
Boyoma Falls, formerly known as Stanley Falls, consists of seven cataracts, each no more than 15' high, extending over more than along a curve of the Lualaba River between the river port towns of Ubundu and Kisangani/Boyoma in the Orientale region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.At the...
, made up of seven cataracts over a stretch of 100 km between Ubundu
Ubundu
Ubundu, formerly known as Ponthierville or Ponthierstad, is a city located in Tshopo District in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is on the Congo River, just above the Boyoma Falls...
and Kisangani
Kisangani
Kisangani is the capital of Orientale Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is the 3rd largest urbanized city in the country and the largest of the cities that lie in the tropical woodlands of the Congo....
.
The Lualaba serves as the northern and western boundary of the Upemba National Park
Upemba National Park
Upemba National Park is a large park in the Katanga province of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Located in a lush area dotted by lakes, including the eponymous Lake Upemba, and bordered by the Lualaba River, its 11,730 km² dominates the Kibara Plateau....
in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Lualaba was once considered a possibility for the source of the Nile
Nile
The Nile is a major north-flowing river in North Africa, generally regarded as the longest river in the world. It is long. It runs through the ten countries of Sudan, South Sudan, Burundi, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and Egypt.The Nile has two major...
, until Henry Morton Stanley
Henry Morton Stanley
Sir Henry Morton Stanley, GCB, born John Rowlands , was a Welsh journalist and explorer famous for his exploration of Africa and his search for David Livingstone. Upon finding Livingstone, Stanley allegedly uttered the now-famous greeting, "Dr...
journeyed down it and proved that it drained into the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
. French colonial governor Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza
Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza
Pietro Paolo Savorgnan di Brazzà, best known as Pierre Paul François Camille Savorgnan de Brazza , was a Franco-Italian explorer, born in Italy and later naturalized Frenchman...
also explored the Lualaba.
Tributaries
The largest tributaries of the Lualaba are- the Lowa River
- the Ulindi River
- the Luama River
- the Lukuga River, which drains Lake TanganyikaLake TanganyikaLake Tanganyika is an African Great Lake. It is estimated to be the second largest freshwater lake in the world by volume, and the second deepest, after Lake Baikal in Siberia; it is also the world's longest freshwater lake...
- the Lufira River
- the Lubudi River
- the Luvua RiverLuvua RiverThe Luvua River is a river in the Katanga Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo . It flows from the northern end of Lake Mweru on the Zambia-Congo border in a northwesterly direction for to its confluence with the Lualaba River opposite the town of Ankoro...
- the Elila River
Towns along the Lualaba include the following:
- KongoloKongoloKongolo is a town in Tanganyika District in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.It is located on the west bank of the Lualaba River, the largest headstream of the Congo River. It has 62 455 inhabitants.- Transport :...
- KabaloKabaloKabalo is one of a number of towns in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with this name. This one is in the east, in Tanganyika District.- Transport :Kabalo is the junction of railway lines to the north and to Lake Tanganyika in the east....
Further reading
- Maria Petringa, Brazza, A Life for Africa. Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse, 2006. ISBN 978-1-4259-1198-0