Pool Malebo
Lower reaches of the Congo River | Central Africa
Date of acquisition: July 11th, 2022 | 09:21:51 UTC
Sensor: Sentinel-2B L2A
Coordinates: ca. 4.3°S, 15.5°E
The Malebo Pool is a lake-like widening of the lower reaches of the Congo River, which at this point constitutes the border between the Republic of the Congo in the north and the Democratic Republic of Congo in the south. Their respective capitals, Brazzaville and Kinshasa, are located on opposite riversides at the downstream end of Malebo Pool, making them the geographically closest capitals in the world.
Malebo Pool is surrounded by a ring of low mountains and has a diameter of about 30 kilometres. The depth of the river is up to ten meters here. In its centre lies M’Bamou island (180km²), which is part of the Republic of the Congo.
Further downstream are Livingstone Falls, which are a succession of enormous rapids dropping 270m in 350km.
