Congo River, formerly Zaire River, river in west-central Africa. With a length of 2,900 miles (4,700 km), it is the continent's second longest river, after the Nile.

What country is the river Congo in?

The Congo River system runs through the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, western Zambia, northern Angola, and parts of Cameroon and Tanzania, according to National Geographic.

Where does the Congo River start and end?

The waters of the Congo River originate in the highlands and mountains of the East Africa Rift, as well as Lake Tanganyika and Lake Mweru. The Upper Congo ends at Stanley Falls, a 96-km stretch of rapids. Stanley Falls signals the beginning of the Middle Congo, which runs for 1,609 km, forming a mostly navigable river.