Democratic Republic of Congo

The Democratic Republic of Congo, or DRC, is a huge country in central Africa. It has the second largest tropical rainforest in the world after the Amazon. The mighty Congo River flows through the heart of the country.

Land and People

About 100 million people live in the DRC. The capital is Kinshasa. Dense rainforest covers much of the country. The Congo River is the deepest river in the world. The eastern part has mountains and volcanoes.

Culture and Fun Facts

The DRC is home to bonobos and okapis, animals found nowhere else. The country has over 200 ethnic groups and languages. Congolese music, especially rumba, has influenced music across Africa. People eat fufu, a dough made from cassava, with stews.

Fun Facts

• The Congo River is the deepest river in the world at over 720 feet deep.
• Bonobos, our closest relatives along with chimpanzees, live only in the DRC.
• The DRC's rainforest is the second largest tropical forest in the world.

Did You Know?

The okapi lives only in the rainforests of the DRC. It looks like a mix between a zebra and a giraffe, with striped legs and a long neck. It was not known to scientists until 1901. The okapi is so rare it is sometimes called the African unicorn.