The Congo Basin

The Congo Basin is a large area of tropical rainforest in central Africa. It is the second largest rainforest in the world, after the Amazon. The Congo River and its many branches flow through the basin. The forest is home to gorillas, elephants, and thousands of other species.

The Forest

The Congo Basin rainforest covers about 500 million acres across six countries. The trees grow tall and thick, forming a dense canopy. The forest floor is dark and humid. The Congo River is the second largest river in the world by the amount of water it carries.

Wildlife and People

The Congo Basin is home to forest elephants, gorillas, chimpanzees, and okapis. Indigenous peoples like the Pygmy groups have lived in the forest for thousands of years. The forest is threatened by logging and farming. Many people are working to protect it.

Fun Facts

• The Congo Basin rainforest absorbs huge amounts of carbon dioxide, helping fight climate change.
• The okapi, which looks like a mix between a giraffe and a zebra, is found only in the Congo Basin.
• The Congo River is the deepest river in the world, over 700 feet deep in some places.

Did You Know?

The Congo Basin rainforest is so thick that in some places, sunlight barely reaches the ground!