How many cataracts limit navigation on the lower Congo River?

Navigation on the lower Congo River is limited by a series of 32 cataracts and rapids, collectively known as Livingstone Falls. These obstacles, which include the famous Inga Falls, extend for approximately 220 miles (354 km) between Kinshasa and Matadi.123

Because these cataracts create an insurmountable barrier, they prevent direct navigation from the Atlantic Ocean to the interior of the continent. To overcome this, rail lines were historically constructed to connect the inland river network to the coast.134