Most rivers cross the Equator once — if they cross it at all.
But one of Africa’s greatest rivers does something unusual.
The Congo River crosses the Equator twice during its journey through Central Africa.
Its enormous curved route takes the river from south of the Equator into the Northern Hemisphere before it turns south again and eventually reaches the Atlantic Ocean.
Why does the Congo River cross twice?
The answer lies in the shape of the river and the enormous Congo Basin.
Rather than flowing in a straight line towards the ocean, the Congo follows a huge curved path through Central Africa.
Parts of the river flow north before its course bends towards the southwest.
That unusual route takes it across the Equator in one direction and later across it again.
One of the world’s most powerful rivers
The Congo River is remarkable for more than its route.
It stretches for roughly 4,700 kilometres and carries an enormous volume of water towards the Atlantic.
By water discharge, it is second only to the Amazon River.
Its vast network of tributaries drains much of Central Africa and supports one of the world’s largest tropical rainforest regions.
The river is also an essential transport route for communities across the region.
A river with enormous rapids
Further downstream, the Congo becomes even more dramatic.
The river passes through powerful rapids and narrow sections as huge volumes of water move towards the Atlantic.
The Inga Rapids in the Democratic Republic of Congo are particularly well known for their immense power.
The river’s size and flow have also given the Congo Basin enormous hydroelectric potential.
At the heart of Central Africa
For millions of people, the Congo is much more than an unusual feature on a map.
The river and its tributaries provide transport, fishing and water to communities across a vast region.
They also support forests containing extraordinary biodiversity.
But geographically, one fact makes the Congo especially unusual.
Follow its course on a map and you will cross the Equator once — and then cross it all over again.