- Lualaba River
The Lualaba River is the greatest
headstream of theCongo River by volume of water. However, by length theChambeshi River is the furthest headstream. The Lualaba is 1800km long, running from nearMusofi in the vicinity ofLubumbashi inKatanga Province . The whole of its length lies within theDemocratic Republic of Congo . It rises at an elevation of 1400m above sea level and flows northwards toKisangani , where theCongo River officially begins. The Lualaba River's source is on theKatanga Plateau ; it then descends to theManika Plateau , with waterfalls and rapids marking the descent. As it drops to theKamalondo Trough (457m in 72km), it is harnessed for hydroelectric power atNzilo Dam nearNzilo Falls . AtBukama the river becomes navigable for about 640km through a series of marshy lakes (includingLake Upemba andLake Kisale ). Below Kongola, the river becomes unnavigable as it enters a narrow gorge,Portes d'Enfer . BetweenKasongo andKibombo , the river is navigable for about 100km, before rapids make it unnavigable again atKindu-Port-Empain . The river's end is marked by theBoyoma Falls , made up of seven cataracts over a stretch of 100km betweenUbundu andKisangani .The Lualaba serves as the northern and western boundary of the
Upemba National Park in theDemocratic Republic of Congo .The Lualaba was once considered a possibility for the source of the
Nile , untilHenry Morton Stanley journeyed down it and proved that it drained into theAtlantic Ocean .*
Tim Butcher : "Blood River - A Journey To Africa's Broken Heart", 2007. ISBN 0-701-17981-3The largest tributaries of the Lualaba are:the Lowa River:the Ulindi River:the Luama River:the Lukuga River, which drains
Lake Tanganyika :the Lufira River:the Lubudi River:theLuvua River Towns along the Lualaba include the following::
Kongolo :Kabalo
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