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Zaire,
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 Zaire, Republic of, nation of Central Africa, bounded on the north by the Central African Republic and Sudan; on the east by Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Lake Tanganyika (which separates it from Tanzania); on the south by Zambia; on the southwest by Angola; and on the west by Angola (Cabinda enclave) and the Republic of the Congo.
 It was known as the Belgian Congo until it became independent in 1960 as the Democratic Republic of the Congo; its name was changed to Zaire in 1971. The extreme western portion of the country is a narrow wedge terminating in a 40-km (25-mi) strip along the Atlantic Ocean. The greatest width of the country is about 1930 km (about 1200 mi); its greatest length from north to south is about 2010 km (about 1250 mi). Its total area is 2,344,885 sq km (905,365 sq mi). Kinshasa is the capital and largest city.
Land and Resources
The dominant physiographic feature of the country is the basin of the Zaire River, also known as the Zaire River. This region, constituting the entire central area, is a vast depression that slopes upward on all sides into plateaus and mountain ranges. The highest mountain group in this area is the Mitumba Range, on Zaire's eastern border. The Ubangi River, chief northern tributary of the Zaire, rises on the northwestern slopes of this range. In the southeast the basin is fringed by rugged mountain country, sometimes called the Katanga, or Shaba, Plateau. This region, about 1220 m (about 4000 ft) above sea level, contains rich copper fields, uranium, and other mineral deposits.
In the southwest of Zaire the mountain chains are collectively designated the Angola Plateau. Here are located the sources of the Kasai, chief southern affluent of the Zaire River. Both the Zaire River Basin and the mountain regions are traversed by numerous rivers, the valleys of which are covered with dense vegetation. Virtually impenetrable equatorial forests occupy the eastern and northeastern portions of the country. The largest, known variously as the Ituri, Great Congo, Pygmy, and Stanley Forest, extends east from the confluence of the Aruwimi and Zaire rivers nearly to Lake Albert, covering some 65,000 sq km (some 25,000 sq mi). In this area, on the Ugandan border, is the Ruwenzori Range, containing Zaire's highest point, Margherita Peak (5109 m/16,762 ft). Large regions of the Congo Basin consist of savanna land.
Climate
Except in the upland regions, the climate of the country is extremely hot and humid. The average annual temperature is about 27° C (about 80° F) in the low central area, with extremes considerably higher in February, the hottest month. In areas with altitudes above about 1500 m (about 5000 ft) the average annual temperature is about 19° C (about 66° F). The average annual rainfall is about 1520 mm (about 60 in) in the north and 1270 mm (50 in) in the south. Frequent heavy rains occur from April to November north of the equator and from October through May south of the equator. In the central part of the country rainfall is relatively evenly distributed throughout the year.
"Zaire, Republic of," Microsoft® Encarta® 97 Encyclopedia.
© 1993-1996 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
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Last Revised: May 26, 2007 11:48 AM. |
