Why is the Congo River difficult to navigate all the way from the interior to the Atlantic Ocean?

The Congo River is difficult to navigate from the interior to the Atlantic Ocean because of a series of 32 cataracts and rapids along its lower course.12

These obstacles, collectively known as Livingstone Falls, extend for approximately 220 miles (354 km) between Kinshasa and the seaport of Matadi. This stretch includes the famous Inga Falls, where the river drops 315 feet (96 m) over a distance of just 9 miles (14 km). These cataracts create an insurmountable barrier that prevents direct navigation between the inland Malebo Pool and the coast.342

To overcome this geographical challenge, railways were constructed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to connect the interior river network to the Atlantic ports, facilitating the transport of goods that cannot be moved by water through the lower river section.5