Kwilu River

For the river in the Republic of the Congo, see Kouilou-Niari River.

Kwilu River
File:Crossing kwilu river.jpg May, 2003 - Villagers crossing the Kwilu river
Mouth
Basin countries	Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Length	965 kilometres (600 mi)
River system	Kasaï River

The Kwilu River is a major river that originates in Angola and flows north through Bandundu Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to the city of Bandundu, where it joins the Kwango River just before this stream enters the Kasai River. In the DRC the river flows past the towns of Gungu, Kikwit, Bulungu, Bagata and Bandundu. Lusanga, formerly Leverville, lies at the location where the Kwenge River joins the Kwilu, between Kikwit and Bulungu.

The river is about 965 kilometres (600 mi) long. In the wet season the flooded area covers 1,550 square kilometres (600 sq mi). The headwaters of the river rise at elevations between 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) and 1,800 metres (5,900 ft) in the Angolan highlands. They drop steeply to the flat central Congo Basin at between 500 metres (1,600 ft) and 300 metres (980 ft) above sea level. A 2011 survey found 113 species of fish in 21 families and eight orders.

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  Beside the river at Bandundu, June 2007

• Rivière Kwilu à Bandundu.jpg

  The river at Bandundu, June 2007