Lualaba River

Lualaba River
River, central Africa.

It is the headstream of the Congo River, and its 1,100-mi (1,800-km) course lies entirely within the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is harnessed in places for hydroelectric power.

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      headstream of the Congo River. Its 1,100-mile (1,800-kilometre) course lies entirely within Congo (Kinshasa), central Africa. It rises on the Katanga (Shaba) plateau at about 4,600 feet (1,400 m), near Musofi, Congo. Its upper course descends to the Manika Plateau and is marked by falls and rapids. Its drop to the Kamolondo Trough (1,500 feet in 45 miles [457 m in 72 km]) is harnessed for generating hydroelectric power at Nzilo Dam, near Nzilo Falls (formerly Delcommune Falls).

      In the trough the Lualaba becomes navigable at Bukama for 400 miles (644 km). During this stretch the river expands into a series of marshy lakes (including Upemba and Kisale) that are periodically flooded and encumbered with papyrus and floating vegetation. Tributaries include the Lufira, Luvua, and Lukuga rivers.

      Below Kongola the river enters a deep, narrow gorge, the Portes d'Enfer, in which navigation is impossible. The river is thereafter navigable for 68 miles [109 km] between Kasongo and Kibombo but is again broken by rapids to Kindu-Port-Empain. Although the final stretch of river between Kindu-Port-Empain and Boyoma (formerly Stanley) Falls is periodically shallow and lined with rocky bluffs, it can be negotiated by boats. The seven cataracts of Boyoma Falls mark the end of the Lualaba and the beginning of the Congo River proper.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Lualaba River — The Lualaba River is the greatest headstream of the Congo River by volume of water. However, by length the Chambeshi River is the furthest headstream. The Lualaba is 1800km long, running from near Musofi in the vicinity of Lubumbashi in Katanga… …   Wikipedia

  • river — river1 riverless, adj. riverlike, adj. /riv euhr/, n. 1. a natural stream of water of fairly large size flowing in a definite course or channel or series of diverging and converging channels. 2. a similar stream of something other than water: a… …   Universalium

  • Lualaba (rivière) — Congo (fleuve) Pour les articles homonymes, voir Congo. 6° 04′ 45″ S 12° 27′ 00″ E …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Luvua River — ▪ river, Democratic Republic of the Congo       tributary of the Lualaba River in southeastern Congo (Kinshasa). It issues from the northern end of Lake Mweru, on the Congo Zambia border, and flows about 220 miles (350 km) northwest past Kiambi… …   Universalium

  • Lufira River — ▪ river, Democratic Republic of the Congo       tributary of the Lualaba River, which is itself a headstream of the Congo River, in Congo (Kinshasa). The Lufira rises in the Katanga (Shaba) plateau south of Likasi, Congo, and flows 300 miles (500 …   Universalium

  • Lukuga River — ▪ river, Democratic Republic of the Congo       tributary of the Lualaba River in eastern Congo (Kinshasa). It issues from the western shore of Lake Tanganyika (Tanganyika, Lake) at Kalemie, Congo, and flows 200 miles (320 km) west to the Lualaba …   Universalium

  • Lualaba — geographical name river 400 miles (640 kilometers) SE Democratic Republic of the Congo flowing N to join the Luapula (outlet of Lake Bangweulu) forming Congo River …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Lualaba — /looh ah lah bah/, n. a river in the SE Democratic Republic of the Congo: a headstream of the Congo (Zaire) River. 400 mi. (645 km) long. * * * …   Universalium

  • Lualaba — Lu•a•la•ba [[t]ˌlu ɑˈlɑ bɑ[/t]] n. geg a river in the SE Democratic Republic of the Congo: a headstream of the Zaire (Congo) River. 400 mi. (645 km) long …   From formal English to slang

  • Lualaba — /luəˈlabə/ (say loohuh lahbuh) noun a river in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the south eastern part; a headstream of the Congo River. About 650 km …  

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