Boma
Encyclopedia
The port town of Boma in Bas-Congo
province was the capital city of the Congo Free State
and Belgian Congo
(the modern Democratic Republic of the Congo
) from 1 May 1886 to 1926, when it was moved to Léopoldville (since renamed Kinshasa
). It exports tropical timber
, banana
s, cacao, and palm
products. As of 2009 it had an estimated population of 527,725.
and entrepôt
by merchants of several European countries in the 16th century.
, where the river meets the Atlantic Ocean
.
The great width and depth of the river allow sea-going ships to reach Boma, which thus serves as DR Congo's major port.
Between 1889 and 1984, the port was served by a 610mm gauge railway line from Tshela
.
Bas-Congo
Bas-Congo is one of the eleven provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is the only province with a coastline and it borders Bandundu province to the east and Kinshasa to the northeast...
province was the capital city of the Congo Free State
Congo Free State
The Congo Free State was a large area in Central Africa which was privately controlled by Leopold II, King of the Belgians. Its origins lay in Leopold's attracting scientific, and humanitarian backing for a non-governmental organization, the Association internationale africaine...
and Belgian Congo
Belgian Congo
The Belgian Congo was the formal title of present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo between King Leopold II's formal relinquishment of his personal control over the state to Belgium on 15 November 1908, and Congolese independence on 30 June 1960.-Congo Free State, 1884–1908:Until the latter...
(the modern Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
) from 1 May 1886 to 1926, when it was moved to Léopoldville (since renamed Kinshasa
Kinshasa
Kinshasa is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The city is located on the Congo River....
). It exports tropical timber
Timber
Timber may refer to:* Timber, a term common in the United Kingdom and Australia for wood materials * Timber, Oregon, an unincorporated community in the U.S...
, banana
Banana
Banana is the common name for herbaceous plants of the genus Musa and for the fruit they produce. Bananas come in a variety of sizes and colors when ripe, including yellow, purple, and red....
s, cacao, and palm
Arecaceae
Arecaceae or Palmae , are a family of flowering plants, the only family in the monocot order Arecales. There are roughly 202 currently known genera with around 2600 species, most of which are restricted to tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate climates...
products. As of 2009 it had an estimated population of 527,725.
History
Boma was founded as a slaving stationSlavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
and entrepôt
Entrepôt
An entrepôt is a trading post where merchandise can be imported and exported without paying import duties, often at a profit. This profit is possible because of trade conditions, for example, the reluctance of ships to travel the entire length of a long trading route, and selling to the entrepôt...
by merchants of several European countries in the 16th century.
Transport
Boma lies on the north bank of the Congo River, some 100 km upstream from MuandaMuanda
Muanda or Moanda is a town lying on the Atlantic Ocean coast of the Democratic Republic of Congo at the mouth of the Congo River. It is situated in Bas-Congo Province, and has a population of 50,000...
, where the river meets the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
.
The great width and depth of the river allow sea-going ships to reach Boma, which thus serves as DR Congo's major port.
Between 1889 and 1984, the port was served by a 610mm gauge railway line from Tshela
Tshela
Tshela is the main town of Bas-fleuve district, in Bas-Congo Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo . It was the birthplace of Joseph Kasa-Vubu, the first president of the Republic of Congo, after independence from Belgium, in 1960. The town was linked to the port of Boma, Congo by an...
.
