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Democratic Republic of the Congo

 

Continent - Africa

Region - Central Africa

Size - 2,345,410 km²

Geography - low lying plateau with mountains in east

Language - French, Lingala, Kongo/Kituba, Swahili,  Tshiluba

Religion - 50% Catholic, 20% Protestant, 10% Kimbanguist, 10% Muslim, 10% other

Monetary Unit - Franc Congolais
 

Natural Resources - cobalt, copper, niobium, tantalum, petroleum, industrial and gem diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, uranium, coal, hydropower, timber

Agriculture - coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber, tea, quinine, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, bananas, root crops, corn, fruits; wood products

Industry - mining (diamonds, gold, copper, cobalt, coltan zinc), mineral processing, consumer products (including textiles, footwear, cigarettes, processed foods and beverages), cement, commercial ship repair

Neighbouring Countries - Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Zambia, Angola

Population - 65,751,512 (2007 estimate)

Population Growth Rate - 3.39%

Average Life Expectancy - 57.2

Capital City - Kinshasa (7,017,000 - 2004 estimate )

Highest Mountain - Pic Marguerite (5,110 m)

Longest River - Congo (4,700 km [total length])

Climate - Tropical, hot and wet near equator 19°C to 31°C cooler in the south and east mountain regions 8°C to 33°C

Yearly Rainfall -  equatorial regions 180 cm (approx) mostly March to November, south and east mountain regions 120cm (approx) mostly November to March

 

Plant Life - red cedar, mahogany, oak, walnut, silk-cotton tree, palm trees, orchids, lilies, lobelias, gladioli

Animal Life - lion, elephant, buffalo, rhinoceros, zebra, leopard, cheetah, gorilla, chimpanzee, baboon, wild boar, giraffe, okapi, wild hog, jackal, hyena, hippopotamus, civet, porcupine, squirrel, rabbit, rat, crocodile, lizard, chameleon, snakes including python, tree cobra, puff adder

Insect Life - dragonflies, bees, wasps, beetles, mosquitoes, tsetse fly, scorpions, spiders, centipedes, ants, termites

Aquatic Life - catfish, tigerfish, electric eels

Bird Life - eagle, vulture, owl, goose, duck, parrot, whidah and other weaver birds, pigeon, sunbird, cuckoo, swift, crane, heron, stork, pelican, cormorant

 

 

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