Which lakes lie in the marshy central part of the Congo River basin?

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Cluster of small houses in a village nestled among green hills beside the wide Congo River, with more hills visible in the background, Democratic Republic of Congo. — Central Africa A small village in the hills along the banks of the Congo River, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central Africa.

The marshy central part of the Congo basin, often referred to as the cuvette, contains two primary lakes: Lake Mai-Ndombe and Lake Tumba.1

These lakes are situated within the equatorial lowlands, a region characterized by dense forests and swampy areas where the soil is frequently nourished by the decomposition of organic matter. While the broader Congo River system includes various other lakes—such as Lake Tanganyika, Lake Mweru, and Lake Upemba—those are located in the upper reaches of the river system rather than in the central marshy depression.12