The Kasai River (French: Kasaï[ka.sa.i]; called Cassai in Angola) is a left bank tributary of the Congo River, located in Central Africa.[4] The river begins in central Angola and flows to the east until it reaches the border between Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where it turns north and serves as the border until it flows into the DRC. From Ilebo, between the confluences with Lulua river and Sankuru river, the Kasai river turns to a westerly direction. The lower stretch of the river from the confluence with Fimi river, is known as the Kwa(h) River, before it joins the Congo at Kwamouth northeast of Kinshasa. The Kasai basin consists mainly of equatorial rainforest areas, which provide an agricultural land in a region noted for its infertile, sandy soil.[4] It is a tributary of Congo river and diamonds are found in it. Around 60% of diamonds in Belgium go from Kasai river for cutting and shaping.
The tributaries of River Kasai are clear of obstacles like cataracts and river weed, making them very navigable. They facilitate the transport sector and form an important trade artery. The river's role in transport and trade was more prominent during the pre-colonial period when the slave trade was legal. Slave traders used one of its major tributaries, the Kwango River, to navigate the equatorial rain forest, capture slaves and find their way back to the Atlantic Ocean where they had docked their ships. It is greatly controversial that some of the local kingdoms that were along the Kasai River supported the slave trade. The Rund kingdom for instance, readily provided slaves for the most notorious slave traders like John Matthews, a renowned British slave vendor. These activities, though they occurred between the 18th and 19th centuries, left a lasting impact in the regions where they were most prominent, such as between the Kwango and the Kwilu rivers. The population has never recovered fully, with the population density lower than that of areas that did not experience the slave trade. The most probable trigger to British and Portuguese great interests in the Kasai River was the presence of alluvial diamonds lying in rich deposit beds, especially at the river's mouth. More deposits lie along the beds of a major tributary, the Kwango River. In fact, it is common to hear the phrase “the diamond heartland of North Eastern Angola” used in reference to the Kwango River valley. This is because the diamond alluvial beds found in this region are the richest in Angola.
^Becker, M.; Papa, F.; Frappart, F.; Alsdorf, D.; Calmant, S.; Da Silva, J. Santos; Prigent, C.; Seyler, F. (2018). "Satellite-based estimates of surface water dynamics in the Congo River Basin". International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation. 66: 196–209. doi:10.1016/j.jag.2017.11.015.
^Becker, M.; Papa, F.; Frappart, F.; Alsdorf, D.; Calmant, S.; Da Silva, J. Santos; Prigent, C.; Seyler, F. (2018). "Satellite-based estimates of surface water dynamics in the Congo River Basin". International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation. 66: 196–209. doi:10.1016/j.jag.2017.11.015.
^Becker, M.; Papa, F.; Frappart, F.; Alsdorf, D.; Calmant, S.; Da Silva, J. Santos; Prigent, C.; Seyler, F. (2018). "Satellite-based estimates of surface water dynamics in the Congo River Basin". International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation. 66: 196–209. doi:10.1016/j.jag.2017.11.015.
^ abBroadhead, Susan (1992). Historical dictionary of Angola. Metuchen, N.J: Scarecrow Press. p. 99. ISBN0585070091.
^Stanley, H.M., 1899, Through the Dark Continent, London: G. Newnes, Vol. One ISBN0486256677, Vol. Two ISBN0486256685
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April 10, 2024
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For the Indian river also known as Kasai see Kangsabati River The Kasai River French Kasai ka sa i called Cassai in Angola is a left bank tributary of the Congo River located in Central Africa 4 The river begins in central Angola and flows to the east until it reaches the border between Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo where it turns north and serves as the border until it flows into the DRC From Ilebo between the confluences with Lulua river and Sankuru river the Kasai river turns to a westerly direction The lower stretch of the river from the confluence with Fimi river is known as the Kwa h River before it joins the Congo at Kwamouth northeast of Kinshasa The Kasai basin consists mainly of equatorial rainforest areas which provide an agricultural land in a region noted for its infertile sandy soil 4 It is a tributary of Congo river and diamonds are found in it Around 60 of diamonds in Belgium go from Kasai river for cutting and shaping Kasai RiverKasai River watershed Interactive map LocationCountriesAngolaDemocratic Republic of the CongoPhysical characteristicsSource coordinates11 34 59 S 19 01 26 E 11 583 S 19 024 E 11 583 19 024MouthCongo River locationKwamouth DRC coordinates3 10 55 S 16 11 02 E 3 182 S 16 184 E 3 182 16 184Length2 153 km 1 338 mi Basin size884 376 km2 341 459 sq mi 1 Discharge locationKwamouth near mouth average11 500 m3 s 410 000 cu ft s 2 Discharge locationLebida average11 318 m3 s 399 700 cu ft s 3 Basin featuresTributaries leftLoange Kwango rightLulua Sankuru FimiStanley s route is depicted by the solid black line Contents 1 Exploration 2 Tributaries 3 Economic importance 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksExploration editHenry Morton Stanley reached the confluence on 9 March 1877 calling the river Nkutu a powerful and deep river but recognizing it as originating from David Livingstone s Kwango 5 Vol Two 252 Tributaries editThe Kasai s main tributaries upstream from the confluence with the Congo Fimi Fimi Lukenie length 1100 km basin size 132 000 km2 mean annual discharge 2000 m3 s Kwilu Kwango 1800 km 263 500 km2 3299 m3 s Loange Sankuru 1200 km 156 000 km2 2500 m3 s LuluaEconomic importance editThe tributaries of River Kasai are clear of obstacles like cataracts and river weed making them very navigable They facilitate the transport sector and form an important trade artery The river s role in transport and trade was more prominent during the pre colonial period when the slave trade was legal Slave traders used one of its major tributaries the Kwango River to navigate the equatorial rain forest capture slaves and find their way back to the Atlantic Ocean where they had docked their ships It is greatly controversial that some of the local kingdoms that were along the Kasai River supported the slave trade The Rund kingdom for instance readily provided slaves for the most notorious slave traders like John Matthews a renowned British slave vendor These activities though they occurred between the 18th and 19th centuries left a lasting impact in the regions where they were most prominent such as between the Kwango and the Kwilu rivers The population has never recovered fully with the population density lower than that of areas that did not experience the slave trade The most probable trigger to British and Portuguese great interests in the Kasai River was the presence of alluvial diamonds lying in rich deposit beds especially at the river s mouth More deposits lie along the beds of a major tributary the Kwango River In fact it is common to hear the phrase the diamond heartland of North Eastern Angola used in reference to the Kwango River valley This is because the diamond alluvial beds found in this region are the richest in Angola See also editKasai River disasterReferences edit Becker M Papa F Frappart F Alsdorf D Calmant S Da Silva J Santos Prigent C Seyler F 2018 Satellite based estimates of surface water dynamics in the Congo River Basin International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation 66 196 209 doi 10 1016 j jag 2017 11 015 Becker M Papa F Frappart F Alsdorf D Calmant S Da Silva J Santos Prigent C Seyler F 2018 Satellite based estimates of surface water dynamics in the Congo River Basin International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation 66 196 209 doi 10 1016 j jag 2017 11 015 Becker M Papa F Frappart F Alsdorf D Calmant S Da Silva J Santos Prigent C Seyler F 2018 Satellite based estimates of surface water dynamics in the Congo River Basin International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation 66 196 209 doi 10 1016 j jag 2017 11 015 a b Broadhead Susan 1992 Historical dictionary of Angola Metuchen N J Scarecrow Press p 99 ISBN 0585070091 Stanley H M 1899 Through the Dark Continent London G Newnes Vol One ISBN 0486256677 Vol Two ISBN 0486256685External links editMap of the Kasai River basin at Water Resources eAtlas10 57 37 S 19 18 56 E 10 96028 S 19 31556 E 10 96028 19 31556 nbsp Wikimedia 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