There are two central African nations named for the Congo River: the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Both nations have been independent since 1960. The Republic of the Congo, sometimes called Congo (Brazzaville) or the Congo Republic, is the former French Congo. Located entirely north of the Congo River, it has only a short coastline, about 170 km (105 mi) in length. However, this coast includes the major port of Pointe-Noire. To avoid the falls on the lower Congo, goods to and from all of central Africa are shipped by rail between Pointe-Noire and Brazzaville, which is on the river above the falls. The Republic of the Congo is divided into 12 departments (départements). French is an official language in The Republic, along with three indigenous languages. The French word for a lighthouse is phare, although a smaller light or harbor light is called a feu (literally "fire," but here meaning "light") or a balise (beacon). In French île is an island, cap is a cape, pointe is a promontory or point of land, roche is a rock, récife is a reef, baie is a bay, estuaire is an estuary or inlet, détroit is a strait, rivière is a river, and havre is a harbor. Aids to navigation in the Republic of the Congo are maintained by the Port of Pointe Noire, operated by APM Terminals. ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. Admiralty numbers are from volume D of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 113.
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![]() Passe Ouest Light, Pointe Noire, April 2023 ex-Google Maps photo by James Delaney |
Information available on lost lighthouses:
Notable faux lighthouses:
Adjoining pages: North: Gabon | South: Angola (Cabinda)
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Posted September 16, 2005. Checked and revised April 13, 2025. Lighthouses: 5. Site copyright 2025 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.