Kinshasa is on one side of theCongo river, andBrazzaville, the capital of the Republic of Congo, is on the other side. Kinshasa and Brazzaville are the nearest country capitals in the world.
Henry Morton Stanley founded (started) the town in1881 and called it Léopoldville (after KingLéopold II of Belgium, who controlled theCongo Free State, now theDemocratic Republic of the Congo), next to a village called Nshasa or Kinshasa.[1] The city was originally private property (not public). The post developed successfully as the first navigable port on the Congo River aboveLivingstone Falls, a series of rapids over 300 kilometres (190 mi) belowLeopoldville. At first, all goods arriving by sea or being sent by sea had to be carried by porters between Léopoldville andMatadi. Later a railway went around the falls.
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