Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:55:27-2:56:22

Bypassing Congo rapids: value versus financing

A navigable route around Congo rapids could have value, but the project would depend on funding and organization.

Congo RiverInland WaterwaysTransport Infrastructure
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Question

Would bypassing the Congo River's rapids in the style of the St. Lawrence Seaway be worthwhile?

Short answer

It could be worthwhile, but securing finance and organizing construction would be the difficult part.

Notes

Bypassing the Congo's rapids in the manner of the St. Lawrence Seaway could be a worthwhile transport project. The difficulty is assembling the finance and organization to carry it out. A comparison with a proposed railway along the St. Lawrence illustrates the gap between an attractive economic case and a funded project.