The river runs through nearly a dozen countries providing a vital resource to millions (Image: Getty)
second-longest river is by some distance its deepest, with a depth of up to 220 metres.
The Congo River runs through the Republic of Congo, , the Central African Republic, western Zambia, northern Angola, and parts of and as the third largest river in the world by volume flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
The Congo runs for 2,500 miles and zigzags the equator as it snakes its way through the continents varied landscape.
Consisting of rapids, wetlands, floodplains, lakes and swamps, the river gives life to nearly a dozen African countries, providing a vital resource to communities, plant life and wildlife.
The river is divided into three parts, the upper, middle and lower Congo, with each part having its own set of characteristics.
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The river is a vital resource for millions of people in communities along the river’s banks (Image: Getty)
The upper is made up of tributaries and rapids, the middle is mostly a steady stream, and the lower consists of gorges and falls, which can make it dangerous.
The final 186 miles before the river meets the ocean are where it becomes most dangerous, as deep gorges see the river drop considerably, with focal points such as Livingstone Falls offering stunning views and visual demonstrations of the power of nature.
Dr Melanie Stiassny, an ichthyologist at the American Museum of Natural History, has visited the site and recounted it to the New York Times.
She said: “You can imagine, you’re dropping off a plateau and all of this water’s plunging down what is actually a narrow gorge. It’s a very different kind of river than the rest of the Congo.
“A meandering, slow-flowing river, and then it hits Malebo Pool, and then it just plunges down.”
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Deep gorges such as at Livingstone Falls make the river dangerous in parts (Image: Getty)
But it is the depth of the river that sets it apart from any other on the planet.
At 220 metres at its deepest point, the river is too deep for light to penetrate as the river passes through Pool Malebo, which is just East of Brazzaville, and an area known as Pioka.
More than 230 species of fish are known to exist in this one small part of the river, with many having adapted to the lack of light to not only survive but thrive in the often harsh conditions.
Throughout the river’s path there is an abundance of wildlife who live in the water or on the banks with various kinds of reptiles, bugs and birds relying on the resource for food and survival.