Matadi
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| Ville de Matadi | |
| Nickname: The stone city | |
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| Province | Bas-Congo |
|---|---|
| Government | |
| - Mayor | Jean Marc Nzayidio |
| Population (2004) | |
| - City | 245,862 |
| Time zone | DRC1 (UTC+1) |
Matadi is a port in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the capital of the province Bas-Congo. It has a population of 245,862 (2004). Matadi is situated on the left bank of the Congo River ninety one miles from the mouth and at the last navigable point before rapids make the river impassable for a long stretch. It was founded by Sir Henry Morton Stanley in 1879.
[edit] Culture
The word Matadi means stone in the local Kikongo language. The town is built on steep hills and there is local saying that to live in Matadi, you must know the verbs "to go up", "to go down" and "to sweat". Upstream is a series of caves known as the "rock of Diogo Cão", after graffiti carved by the Portuguese explorer in 1485 marking the limit of his travels up the Congo River.
Mount Cambier and the Yelaba Rapids also lie near the city.
[edit] Infrastructure
A power station on the Mpozo River supplies power to the town. A rail line connects it to Kinshasa, 350km away. The port, one of central Africa's largest harbours, is accessible to oceangoing vessels and serves as a major import and export point for the whole nation. Chief exports are coffee and timber. The state fishing company "Pemarza" uses the port to supply fish to the capital. Tshimpi Airport is nearby but is reportedly inactive. A 722m long mixed rail and road bridge built in 1983 crosses the river. A monument to the builders of the Matadi-Kinshasa Railway stands on a nearby hill.
[edit] External links
