“The Congo” refers to different areas of Africa, all in the same general area but in different contexts. Congo may refer to the political regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo or the Republic of the Congo, it is also possible to refer to the Congo as a geographic location ranging from a general location, a rainforest, a river, or a river basin. The Congo River is also known as the Zaire River and the deepest river in the world, and due to its depth, it offers wildlife many places to live, but the main use of the Congo River was hydroelectric power. The Congo River, also known as the Zaire River, originates from an ancient society nicknamed the "Kingdom of Kongo" from which the river takes its name. The origin of its second name comes from the 1970s Zaire government, which called it the Zaire River. The towns along the banks of this river are also named after him; for example, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Congo. The Congo River sets three important records for itself. First of all, it is the deepest river in the world. It measures more than 220 meters deep. Furthermore, it is the second largest river in the world, calculated based on the amount of water discharged or released; finally, the Congo is the ninth longest river on planet Earth, with a length of approximately 4,700 kilometers. In addition to being large, the Congo is also one of the largest navigable waterways in Africa. The Congo itself, from source to mouth, is made up of 3 areas: the Upper Congo, the Middle Congo and the Lower Congo. Each area is characterized by different characteristics. The upper portion has many confluences or meetings of streams, lakes, waterfalls and rapids. The central part begins the series of cataracts and the lower part becomes blocked in several ar...... middle of paper ......d to account for thirteen percent of the world's hydroelectric power. Currently, only about forty hydroelectric power plants are in use, the largest of which is the Inga Falls Dam. The problem with the use of hydropower is the possibility of extinction of many endemic fish species that prioritize general area niches and habitats. The Congo River has many names but it is still the deepest river in the world and new life will always be found at the depths and people will find new ways to make the water more useful. Due to the depth there are many species of fish such as Cichlids, which are an attractive fish species due to their bright colors and for this reason make them a valuable fish. Some scientists have found new species of fish in the river due to overfishing in some parts of the river, but many fishermen use these fish as a food source or to sell them.