Pool Malebo: Difference between revisions
add |
add |
||
| Line 34: | Line 34: | ||
| reference = |
| reference = |
||
}} |
}} |
||
The '''Pool Malebo''', formerly '''Stanley Pool''', also known as '''Lake Nkunda''' by local indigenous people in pre-colonial times{{cn|date=July 2017}}, is a lake-like widening in the lower reaches of the [[Congo River]].<ref name="britannica">[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/359978/Malebo-Pool "Malebo Pool"]. [http://www.britannica.com ''Encyclopædia Britannica'']. Accessed June 2011.</ref> Its former name was in honor of the early English explorer and journalist [[Henry Morton Stanley]]. |
The '''Pool Malebo''', formerly '''Stanley Pool''', also known as '''Lake Nkunda''' by local indigenous people in pre-colonial times{{cn|date=July 2017}}, is a lake-like widening in the lower reaches of the [[Congo River]].<ref name="britannica">[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/359978/Malebo-Pool "Malebo Pool"]. [http://www.britannica.com ''Encyclopædia Britannica'']. Accessed June 2011.</ref> The Congo River serves as the border between the Republic of the Congo on the north and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the south. |
||
Its former name was in honor of the early English explorer and journalist [[Henry Morton Stanley]]. |
|||
==History== |
==History== |
||
In the late 19th century, English colonists named this natural feature Stanley Pool, after English explorer and journalist Henry Morton Stanley, who had reported on this region. When a railway was constructed nearbyp, a |
In the late 19th century, English colonists named this natural feature Stanley Pool, after English explorer and journalist Henry Morton Stanley, who had reported on this region. When a railway was constructed nearbyp, a plaque was installed to commemorate the rail line connecting [[Matadi]] to [[Stanley-Pool]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://collections.lib.uwm.edu/digital/collection/agsafrica/id/1910/|title=Kongo Central province (Democratic Republic of the Congo), plaque at Palabala commemorating the railway|website=collections.lib.uwm.edu}}</ref> |
||
==Description== |
==Description== |
||
| Line 45: | Line 47: | ||
==Geography== |
==Geography== |
||
The capitals of the [[ |
The capitals of the [[Republic of the Congo]] and the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]] —[[Brazzaville]] and [[Kinshasa]], respectively— are located on opposite shores of the southern part of Pool Malebo. These two capital cities are the closest geographically of any in the world (other than the contiguous [[Rome]], [[Italy]] and [[Vatican City]]). |
||
The Pool is the beginning of the navigable part of the Congo River upstream to the cities of [[Mbandaka]], [[Kisangani]] and [[Bangui]]. Downstream, navigation of the river is blocked by its descent through hundreds of meters in a series of [[rapids]] known as the [[Livingstone Falls]].<ref name=Stanley>Stanley, H.M., 1899, Through the Dark Continent, London: G. Newnes, Vol. One {{ISBN|0486256677}}, Vol. Two {{ISBN|0486256685}}</ref>{{rp|Vol.Two,255}} The river reaches sea level at the port of [[Boma, Kongo Central|Boma]] after a passage of 300 km. |
The Pool is the beginning of the navigable part of the Congo River upstream to the cities of [[Mbandaka]], [[Kisangani]] and [[Bangui]]. Downstream, navigation of the river is blocked by its descent through hundreds of meters in a series of [[rapids]] known as the [[Livingstone Falls]].<ref name=Stanley>Stanley, H.M., 1899, Through the Dark Continent, London: G. Newnes, Vol. One {{ISBN|0486256677}}, Vol. Two {{ISBN|0486256685}}</ref>{{rp|Vol.Two,255}} The river reaches sea level at the port of [[Boma, Kongo Central|Boma]], Congo, after a passage of 300 km. |
||
==Ecology== |
==Ecology== |
||
===Flora=== |
===Flora=== |
||
There are many palm and papyrus swamps along the edges of the river and pool |
There are many [[palm]] and [[papyrus]] swamps along the edges of the river and pool. Floating mats of ''[[Eichhornia]]'' plants move on the river and drift through the pool.<ref name="ecoregions">[http://www.feow.org/ecoregion_details.php?eco=548 "Malebo Pool"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005204600/http://www.feow.org/ecoregion_details.php?eco=548 |date=2011-10-05 }}. [http://www.feow.org "Freshwater Ecoregions of the World"]. [http://www.nature.org The Nature Conservancy]. Accessed June 2011.</ref> |
||
===Fauna=== |
===Fauna=== |
||
Revision as of 14:55, 19 July 2020
| Pool Malebo | |
|---|---|
 Satellite image of the Pool Malebo; the capital cities of Brazzaville, ROC and Kinshasa, DRC are indicated. | |
  Pool Malebo  Pool Malebo | |
| Coordinates | 4°16′55″S 15°29′19″E / 4.28194°S 15.48861°E |
| Lake type | Fluvial |
| Primary inflows | Congo River |
| Primary outflows | Congo River |
| Surface elevation | 900 ft (270 m) |
| Islands | Mbamu |
| Settlements | Kinshasa, Brazzaville |
The Pool Malebo, formerly Stanley Pool, also known as Lake Nkunda by local indigenous people in pre-colonial times[citation needed], is a lake-like widening in the lower reaches of the Congo River.[1] The Congo River serves as the border between the Republic of the Congo on the north and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the south.
Its former name was in honor of the early English explorer and journalist Henry Morton Stanley.
History
In the late 19th century, English colonists named this natural feature Stanley Pool, after English explorer and journalist Henry Morton Stanley, who had reported on this region. When a railway was constructed nearbyp, a plaque was installed to commemorate the rail line connecting Matadi to Stanley-Pool.[2]
Description
The Pool Malebo is about 35 km (22 mi) long, 23 km (14 mi) wide and 500 km2 in surface area. Its central part is occupied by M'Bamou or Bamu Island[1] (180 km2), which is Republic of the Congo territory. The pool is shallow with depths of 3–10 m. Water levels vary by as much as 3 m over the course of a year, because of seasonal flooding, with an average depth of 272 m (900 ft).
Geography
The capitals of the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo —Brazzaville and Kinshasa, respectively— are located on opposite shores of the southern part of Pool Malebo. These two capital cities are the closest geographically of any in the world (other than the contiguous Rome, Italy and Vatican City).
The Pool is the beginning of the navigable part of the Congo River upstream to the cities of Mbandaka, Kisangani and Bangui. Downstream, navigation of the river is blocked by its descent through hundreds of meters in a series of rapids known as the Livingstone Falls.[3]: Vol.Two, 255 The river reaches sea level at the port of Boma, Congo, after a passage of 300 km.
Ecology
Flora
There are many palm and papyrus swamps along the edges of the river and pool. Floating mats of Eichhornia plants move on the river and drift through the pool.[4]
Fauna
Fish
Most fish endemic to the area are catfishes, including the mountain catfish, L. brieni, Leptoglanis mandevillei, L. bouilloni and Atopochilus chabanaudi, an upside-down catfish.[4] More than 200 fish species have been documented. Mormyrids are the most common, with over 40 species, and have the highest diversification.[4]
-
Aerial view of Pool Malebo from above Kinshasa -
Stanley's route is depicted by the solid black line. -
View of Stanley Pool from Leopoldville, 1889 (now Kinshasa)
_pg751_Panorama_du_Stanley_Pool.jpg)
See also
References
- ^ a b "Malebo Pool". Encyclopædia Britannica. Accessed June 2011.
- ^ "Kongo Central province (Democratic Republic of the Congo), plaque at Palabala commemorating the railway". collections.lib.uwm.edu.
- ^ Stanley, H.M., 1899, Through the Dark Continent, London: G. Newnes, Vol. One ISBN 0486256677, Vol. Two ISBN 0486256685
- ^ a b c "Malebo Pool" Archived 2011-10-05 at the Wayback Machine. "Freshwater Ecoregions of the World". The Nature Conservancy. Accessed June 2011.
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2011) |
 | This Republic of the Congo location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 | This Democratic Republic of the Congo location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |