Belgian Congo 11 KATANGA ; COAST ; LAKES and broader valleys, and the country, though decreasing in height, presents a more mountainous appearance, being better drained and less marshy.

Coast In proportion to the area of the colony the coast-line of the Belgian Congo is extremely short. Its frontage to the Atlantic lies between the Portuguese territory of Cabinda and the estuary of the Congo, and is little over 20 miles in length. For shipping purposes its value is small. The coast is generally low and sandy, and the shoals by which it is fringed make it unsafe for vessels to approach very close.

For its communication with the sea the country has therefore to depend upon the estuary of the Congo, which may be considered as beginning at Boma, 50 miles from the coast . The estuary can as a rule be navigated without much difficulty , though the conditions are not ideal .

Lakes On the eastern frontier of the Belgian Congo is the Western Rift valley, in which lie Lakes Albert, Edward, Kivu , and Tanganyika. As a general rule these lakes are bordered by lofty mountains which prevent alike the formation of good ports and the development of communication with the interior. Lake Tanganyika is at the present time of most value for navigation ; on the other lakes, of which Mweru is the chief, there is little organized trade.

River System The general characteristics of the Congo and its numerous tributaries are determined by the physical structure of the basin which they drain . Most, though not all, of these rivers rise upon the uplands surrounding the central region and descend more or less rapidly towards it. In this part of their course they tend to be