What each of us, when he hears the word "Congo"?Black people in loincloths?Maybe expanses of savannah?Or affluent African river, which are home to large alligators?It turns out that this word has several meanings.It's time to find out what the Congo.
meaning of
• People living in Central Africa.Another of his name - "Bakongo".
• The language of the people included in the Bantu language group.Another of his name - "Kicking".
• River in Central Africa.It is the largest on this continent, and on water content and the area of the pool - the second river in the world.
• Depression in the Congo Basin.
• Democratic Republic of the Formerly known as Zaire.Capital - the city of Kinshasa.
• Republic, is a former colony of France.Capital - the city of Brazzaville.
Democratic Republic of Congo
The country is located in Central Africa, the capital - the city of Kinshasa.It shares borders with countries such as Central African Republic, Uganda, South Sudan, Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Angola, Zambia and the Republic of Congo.Africa - the birthplace of the least developed and developing countries.Democratic Republic of the Congo is one of the first.According to the IMF for 2012, it is the poor state of our planet.Why this Republic is lagging behind in their development?First of all, because it has long been a colonial country.More recently, in 1960, the state has ceased to depend on the development of the European country of Belgium.Before that, it was a colony of the Republic.The second thing that hinders the economic development of the country - the climate of the Congo (Republic).It is mainly equatorial, which means that there is always hot.Sizzling sun burns the crops are crops of the population.Sufficient rainfall is only on the river banks.Hinder the development of livestock are observed accumulations of tsetse transporting dangerous diseases.
history of the country
Many centuries ago, the territory of the modern republic inhabited by tribes of pygmies.These undersized Africans lived mainly in the forests, engaged in hunting and gathering.In the II millennium BC.e.Congo has become a haven for agricultural Bantu tribes.These people were engaged in agriculture.They brought with them here agriculture and metallurgy.They knew how to make iron tools.Bantu established in the territory of the state first, one of which was called the Kingdom of the Congo.It appeared in the XIV century.The capital was the city of Mbanza-Congo (now San Salvador).At the end of the XV century in the territory were the Portuguese.They arrived at the mouth of the Congo River.From here begins a black page in our history of the slave trade.Soon after the Portuguese to Africa rushed to the other European powers for "profitable commodity."The slave trade was the most profitable means of enriching developed countries.The whole area of the African continent was soon divided between European countries in the colonies.From the Kingdom of Congo slaves were exported mainly to work on the plantations of America.In 1876, the territory of the state entered the Belgians.Since 1908, this country has become a colony of a European power.More than 50 years had to wait for the enslaved peoples to gain independence.This happened in 1960.A year earlier, the National Movement is headed by Patrice Lumumba won the elections to the local parliament.In 1971, the Republic of Congo was renamed Zaire.In 1997, it received its present name.
population in the Democratic Republic of Congo is home to just over 70 million people.The country is agrarian.Therefore, most of the population lives in villages.Citizens make up only 34% of the total number of people.Life expectancy is low: women - 57 years, men - 53 years.This is due to the difficult economic situation in the country.Also, the low level of medicine contributes to the high mortality rate.The ethnic composition of it is very rich: it is home to over 200 different ethnic groups, among which the main groups - a Bantu, Luba, Mongo, Mangbetu-Zande and Congo.The official language - French.
farm country
As mentioned above, the State is the poorest in the world.And this despite the fact that the Democratic Republic of the Congo - the leader of the presence in the ground of many minerals.There are major supplies cobalt, tantalum, germanium, diamond, copper, zinc, tin, and so on.There are large deposits of oil, iron ore, coal, gold and silver.Plus, the property of the country - its forest and water resources.Despite all this, the state is an agrarian country.And here they are engaged mainly in crop production.Every year the country exported abroad, sugar, coffee, tea, palm oil, quinine, bananas and other fruits, corn, root crops.In 2002, there was observed stable growth.However, since 2008, he has slowed because of falling demand and prices for export commodities.
Republic of Congo The country is also located in Central Africa.Its capital - Brazzaville.It shares borders with countries such as Cameroon, Gabon, Central African Republic, Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.The climate is mainly equatorial and only in the south - subequatorial.In the north of the country it is always very humid.
history of
Once the territory of modern country living pygmies.Then here came the Bantu peoples, engaged hoe and shifting cultivation.They grew yams, beans, sorghum.In 1482, Congo became the site of one of the Portuguese expedition.And here in the XV century came the French, who made a pact protectorate with all the coastal tribes.From 1885 to 1947 the State was a colony of France, which is not only exported slaves from here, but here is engaged in mining of copper ore.In 1960, the country was able to achieve independence from the European powers.Then the world learned what the Congo.The first president was the Fulber here Yulu, who was soon ousted from his post.Ahead of the country waited for a few revolutions, in which power passed from one to another successor.
climate, flora and fauna: a description
Congo - a wonderful country.If in a few words to say about its climate, then it will look like this: here permanently humid and hot.The rainy season in the country for two whole: from January to March and from April to May.The coolest months - July and August.Half of the territory is covered by equatorial rainforests.Flora is represented here is very broad: mahogany, limb, sapele, palm trees, chitola, SSA, and more.Animal World, also rich.It is home to buffalo, elephants, hippos, leopards, monkeys, snakes, birds.
Economy and Culture
Tourism weakly developed in the Republic of Congo.Features of its climate adverse to Europeans, do not allow to adjust the scope of industries.The basis of economy of the country of return - production and export of oil.Agriculture is poorly developed.Grown mainly tapioca, rice, corn, sugarcane, cocoa, coffee and vegetables.There also produce soap, cigarettes, beer and cement.Most of these products are exported.The largest buyers of products in this country - this is America, China and France.
Culture population
The local population is very rich and unique folklore.The songs and folk dances - its foundation.Craftsmen of the country are engaged in wood carving.It covers not only the pottery and various objects, furniture, vessels made of pumpkin.There is also a lot of talented artists who create their paintings, based on local traditions.
affluent of the Congo - the second longest river in the continent
many mysteries in itself conceals the mysterious continent of Africa.One of them - the Congo River, which crosses the equator twice.Until then, she sir little studied.In the upper reaches it is called the Lualaba.It is near the settlement Mumena.Lualaba - river with fickle "character."Rapids areas in which water flows rapidly alternate with smooth and quiet areas.Below city Kongolo, where it meets the valley of Port-d, it forms rapids and waterfalls.The most beautiful of them are beneath the equator.They are known as Stanley Falls.Once they have called the Congo River.On average, its over, it becomes more relaxed.The mouth of the Congo River - is the Atlantic Ocean.
«terrible» and «beautiful»
difficult words to describe the impression that produces this river on the traveler.The novelist Joseph Conrad in his book "Heart of Darkness" said be here, like having to go back to the "first elements of the world, when the earth stormed vegetation and huge trees hovering."What is the Congo (river) in the equatorial forest, where it originates?This is a genuine hell: the impenetrable thicket of the huge 60-meter oak, ebony and gevey, under the canopy of a unique and eternal twilight.And at the bottom, in darkness, in the warm waters of the river at every turn in danger: crocodiles, cobras, pythons.Added to this horrific heat and unbearable humidity, swarms of mosquitoes.Yet its grandeur and beauty of the Congo River is amazing.She rushes at great speed.At the mouth of the river, where it flows into the Atlantic Ocean, it can be seen a large reddish-brown stain rocks that the river carries most of the savannah.Its waters are full of fish.There catch tilapia, Nile elephant, Bärbel, Nile perch, freshwater herring, mackerel and other fish.In total there are more than 1,000 different species of game fish.On the river built several large hydropower plants, the largest of which is called "Inga".
We learned that a Congo.It turned out that the word has several meanings: it is the longest river in Africa, and two completely different state.For each of these objects, we have told in detail.
