A dangerous part of the Congo River Victoria Falls
Central Africa lies between the Atlantic Ocean and the Western Rift Valley. Near the middle of the region is the Congo Basin. Plateaus and low hills surround the basin. The Congo River is an important transportation route. It drains the Congo Basin and has hundreds of smaller rivers flowing into it. The many rapids and waterfalls prevent ships from traveling from the interior of the region all the way to the Atlantic. The Zambezi River flows toward the Indian Ocean. Many rivers in Angola and Zambia and from Lake Nyasa flow into the Zambezi. It also has many waterfalls, including Victoria Falls.
Climate, Vegetation, and Animals
Because of its position along the equator, the Congo Basin and much of the Atlantic coast have a humid tropical climate with warm temperatures and lots of rainfall all year. The warm, wet climate has tropical forests. These forests are home to animals like gorillas, elephants, and okapis – which are relatives of giraffes. However, large areas of these forests are now being cleared for farming and logging. To protect the forests and the animals that live there, some Central African governments have set up national park areas.
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