Matadi

Ville de Matadi Nickname(s): The stone city Ville de Matadi Location in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Coordinates: 5°49′S 13°29′E / 5.817°S 13.483°E / -5.817; 13.483 Province Kongo Central Government  - Mayor Jean Marc Nzayidio Population (2004)  - Total 245,862 Time zone DRC1 (UTC+1)

View over Matadi

Matadi is the chief sea port of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the capital of the province Kongo Central. It has a population of 245,862 (2004). Matadi is situated on the left bank of the Congo River 148 km (92 miles) from the mouth and 8 km (5 miles) below the last navigable point before rapids make the river impassable for a long stretch upriver. It was founded by Sir Henry Morton Stanley in 1879.

Culture

The word Matadi means stone in the local Kikongo language. The town is built on steep hills and there is local saying that to live in Matadi, you must know the verbs "to go up", "to go down" and "to sweat". Upstream is a series of caves known as the "rock of Diogo Cão", after graffiti carved by the Portuguese explorer in 1485 marking the limit of his travels up the Congo River.

Mount Cambier and the Yelaba Rapids also lie near the city.

Infrastructure

View of the port from the river in 1965

The mouth of the Congo forms one of Africa's largest harbours. In addition to Matadi which is the furthest upriver, three ports are located within it, the others being Boma and Banana in DR Congo and Soyo in Angola. Matadi serves as a major import and export point for the whole nation. Chief exports are coffee and timber. The state fishing company "Pemarza" uses the port to supply fish to Kinshasa. Tshimpi Airport is nearby but is reportedly inactive.

Matadi Bridge, a suspension bridge 722 m long with a main span of 520 m, built in 1983, crosses the river just south of Matadi, carrying the main road linking Kinshasa to the coast. After passing through Matadi and over the bridge, it continues to Boma, Muanda and Banana. Although built as a mixed rail and road bridge, there is no current rail line operating over the bridge. Matadi is though the port railhead for the 366 km long Matadi-Kinshasa Railway constructed to by-pass the rapids on the river upstream. A monument to the builders of railway stands on a nearby hill.

A power station on the Mpozo River supplies power to Matadi.

Port

The maximum draft of the port is 8.2m. ^[1]

References

Also referenced in Joseph Conrad's book heart of darkness as "The Station"

External links

The Congo river at Matadi

• Tim Butcher: Blood River - A Journey To Africa's Broken Heart, 2007. ISBN 0-701-17981-3
• Description of Matadi (English Translation)
• FallingRain Map - elevation = 18m (Red dots are railways)

Coordinates: 5°49′S 13°29′E / 5.817°S 13.483°E / -5.817; 13.483

v • d • e Capitals of the Provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2006 Constitution) Sankuru • Bas-Uele • Kongo Central • Kwango • Kwilu • Mai-Ndombe • Kinshasa • Kasaï • Lulua • Kasaï oriental • Lomami • Maniema • Sud-Kivu • Nord-Kivu • Ituri • Haut-Uele • Tshopo • Nord-Ubangi • Mongala • Sud-Ubangi • Équateur • Tshuapa • Tanganyika • Haut-Lomami • Lualaba • Haut-Katanga

Kongo Central in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Cities
Matadi (capital) || Communes : Matadi, Nzanza, Mvuzi Boma - || Communes : Kabondo, Kalamu, Nzadi || Territories : Moanda
Territorial districts
Bas-fleuve District || Territories : Lukula, Seke-Banza, Tshela Cataractes District || Territories : Luozi, Mbanza-Ngungu, Songololo Lukaya District || Territories : Kasangulu, Kimvula, Madimba