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Which major tributaries join the Congo River?
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The Congo River is fed by a vast, dense network of tributaries throughout its course. Major tributaries include:
- Ubangi River: Joins the Congo from the right bank downstream from Kisangani.12
- Kasai River: Joins from the left bank, also downstream from Kisangani, and rivals the Ubangi in the size of its drainage basin.1
- Sangha River: A principal tributary that enters on the right bank along the river's middle course.2
- Kwa River: A principal tributary that enters on the left bank along the middle course.2
- Lomami River: Enters the Congo downstream from Isangi.2
Additionally, the upper reaches of the river system are formed by the union of several streams, including the upper Lualaba, the Luvua, and the Lukuga. The system also incorporates various headstreams and rivers that feed into the basin's lakes, such as the Ruzizi and Malagarasi rivers, which flow into Lake Tanganyika before eventually contributing to the Congo system via the Lukuga.2