| Upemba Depression | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Upemba Depression | |
| Coordinates | 8°36′S26°24′E / 8.6°S 26.4°E /-8.6; 26.4 |
| Primary inflows | Lualaba,Lufira River,Sanga |
| Primary outflows | Lualaba |
| Basin countries | Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Max. length | 250 km (160 mi) |
| Max. width | 40 km (25 mi) |
| Surface area | 6,256 km2 (2,415 sq mi) |
| Surface elevation | 575 m (1,886 ft) |
| References | [1] |
TheUpemba Depression (orKamalondo Depression) is a large marshy bowl area (depression) in theDemocratic Republic of the Congo comprising some fifty lakes, including 22 of relatively large size includingLake Upemba (530 km2) andLake Kisale (300 km2). In an earlier era, the area was probably occupied by one large lake.
The area is covered in marshland and is partially within theUpemba National Park inHaut-Lomami District. The Upemba Depression has been populated almost continuously since the 5th century AD, and is considered the origin of theKingdom of Luba (1585-1889). Chronology based on more than 55radiocarbon datings andthermoluminescence shows periods of occupation since theStone Age. The area includes many archaeological sites, such as theKisalian Graves, and is on the tentative list for UNESCOWorld Heritage Site.[2] Roughly translated, the citation for its inclusion as World Heritage Site states:
This large depression has delivered the largest known cemetery in sub-Saharan Africa. Over 40 archaeological sites have been identified, but only six have been partially excavated so far. Their study allows tracing the complete sequence of the occupation of the region over two millennia, and thus reconstructing the history of a major ethnic group of Central Africa: the Luba.
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