lakelike expansion of the lower Congo River above Livingstone Falls, between the Republic of the Congo (Brazzaville) to the west and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Kinshasa) to the east. It covers an area of 174 square miles (450 square km) and is divided into deep navigable channels by Bamu Island (70 square miles 【181 square km】) in its centre. Its maximum depth is 52 feet (16 m). Brazzaville and Kinshasa occupy its northwestern and southwestern shores, respectively.