Matadi

Matadi is the chief sea port of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the capital of the Kongo Central province, adjacent to the border with Angola. It had a population of 245,862 (2004). Matadi is situated on the left bank of the Congo River, from the mouth and below the last navigable point before the rapids that make the river impassable for a long stretch upriver. It was founded by Sir Henry Morton Stanley in 1879.

History

Matadi was founded by Sir Henry Morton Stanley in 1879. It was strategically important because it was the last navigable port going upstream on the Congo River; it became the furthest inland port in the Congo Free State. The construction of the Matadi–Kinshasa Railway (built between 1890 and 1898) made it possible to transport goods from deeper within Congo's interior to the port of Matadi, stimulating the city to become an important trading center. Portuguese and French West-African commercial interests influenced the city's architecture and urban design, which borrowed from the neighboring colonies in Angola and the Congo-Brazzaville.

Culture

The word ''Matadi'' means stone in the local Kikongo language. The town is built on steep hills. A local saying is 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.

Yelala Rapids lies near the city.

Climate

Matadi has a relatively dry tropical savanna climate ( Köppen ''Aw'') with a lengthy dry season from June to September due to the northerly extension of the cold, foggy Benguela Current.

Infrastructure

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 because of continued warfare.

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, no rail line is now operating over the bridge. Matadi is the port railhead for the 366 km long Matadi-Kinshasa Railway, constructed to bypass the rapids on the river upstream. A monument to the builders of the railway stands on a nearby hill.

A power station on the M'pozo River supplies power to Matadi.

Port

The maximum draft of the port is 8.2m. The Navy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo maintains one operational command at the port.

Media

''La Cité africaine de Matadi'' is a newspaper published in French in Matadi.

Gallery

File:106 Matadi.jpg, Matadi, 1899
File:109 Le marché de Matadi.jpg, The market, 1899
File:110 Un coin de marché à Matadi.jpg, A corner market in Matadi, 1899
File:111 Les élégantes au marché. - Matadi.jpg, Women at the market in Matadi, 1899
File:112 Au marché de Matadi.jpg, The market, 1899
File:113 Les hauteurs de Matadi.jpg, The houses of Matadi, 1899
File:114 Aux environs de Matadi.jpg, The surroundings of Matadi, 1899
File:Matadi port.jpg, Matadi port, circa 1942
Image:Matadi.jpg, Full Congo River at Matadi and the first rapids
Image:Matadi05.jpg, Arrival at Matadi station
Image:Vivi-matadi.jpg, Map of Matadi and Vivi around 1890
File:Matadi in 1930s.JPG, Matadi in 1930s

See also

* Lake Chad replenishment project
* Waterway

References

External links

Description of Matadi

{{Authority control

Populated places in Kongo Central
Populated places established in 1879
Library of Congress Africa Collection related
1879 establishments in Africa