Portal:Democratic Republic of the Congo/Selected article/1

Kinshasa is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. With a population of about 7.5 million (2005 census), it ties with Johannesburg for the status of the second largest city in sub-Saharan Africa, behind Lagos, and third largest in the whole continent, after Lagos and Cairo.

Kinshasa is a city of sharp contrasts, with posh residential and commercial areas, two universities, and sprawling slums coexisting side by side. It is located along the southern bank of the Congo River, directly opposite the city of Brazzaville, capital of the Republic of the Congo. Kinshasa is located at 4°16′S 15°17′E.

Notable features of the city include the SOZACOM Building and Hotel Memling skyscrapers, the central market, the National Museum and the Kinshasa Fine Arts Academy. The Boulevard du 30 Juin links the areas of the city together. (continued...)