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Wonder
Kiubo Falls
In short
One of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is Kiubo Falls. The waterfall is some 270 m wide and 60 m high but the multiple smaller steps above the main falls add a special charm.
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Map of the site
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In detail
Kiubo Falls have formed on the Lufira River – some 500 km long tributary of the Lualaba River. This waterfall has a very special kind of beauty. Kiubo Falls start gradually well before the main fall: at first, the river leaps over small steps – one, another, and then one more. Steps become more and more frequent until the crescendo – the main waterfall, that also consists of scattered, countless steps.
Here the river crosses an outcrop of sandstones of the Kiubo Formation, which were formed in the Ediacaran Age some 550 million years ago. The waterfall, of course, is much, much younger, formed some tens of thousands of years ago.
Around the waterfall has been preserved a patch of natural forest and there are trails to explore the nature of Congo in this region. It is a tourist destination with a hotel – Kiubo Falls Lodge – at the waterfall.
Further below the Kiubo Falls in Lufira River are several more smaller waterfalls. A hydropower plant – Sombwe Dam – is under construction further down the river but it should not affect the Kiubo Falls.
References
- Edwin Lillie, Robert Greyling. Determining the Optimum Scheme Layout for the Sombwe Hydropower Project. Knight Piésold Consulting, 2018.
Linked articles
Wonders of Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo belongs to the least explored and most promising countries of the world regarding exciting landmarks. The last decades have been unfortunate in the history of this enormous country as it has gone through a series of devastating wars and anarchy periods scaring away foreign explorers. The major part of the country is covered with impenetrable, very diverse equatorial jungle and crossed by large rivers. The jungle covers mountain ranges, the base of volcanoes, and surrounds barren inselbergs and precipices with countless high waterfalls.
Waterfalls
Some of the most fascinating and awe-inspiring natural monuments are waterfalls or locations where a river abruptly changes its elevation.
Wonders of Africa
Africa has many outstanding wonders and some of the most surprising ones are the heritage of Egyptian civilization, the vernacular architecture of the Sahel region, tropical ecosystems, and others.
Recommended books
Congo: Democratic Republic· Republic (Bradt Travel Guide)
Known as the heart of Africa, the Congosare one of the last bastions in Africa for the seriously adventurous traveler.This revised guide tells you how to travel both adventurously and safely with the practical information and unique maps needed to explore this jungle territory. The Congos encompass Africa’s largest area of intact rainforest and much of the book is devoted to the spectacular wildlife including the mountain gorilla and the critically endangered eastern lowland gorilla. This is the only comprehensive guide to both Congos in English.
Africa’s Top Geological Sites
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