River in Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Lokoro River (French: Rivière Lokoro) is a river in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, one of the largest affluents of Lake Mai-Ndombe.
The river originates in the Dekese Territory, then flows west through the Lokolama sector of Oshwe Territory of Mai-Ndombe Province, then northwestward along the boundary between Kiri Territory and Inongo Territory to enter the northern part of Lake Mai-Ndombe.
The river runs through extensive areas of permanent swamp forest.
When the heavy rains begin in October the river floods and brings oxygenated water and nutrients into the swamp forests.
Near the upper Lokolo there is a great intercalary savanna named Ita.
This seems to have been the location of a Bolia chiefdom at the end of the fourteenth century.
The headwaters of the river are in the southern part of the Salonga National Park
Most of the park is accessible only via river. The region in the south of the park that is occupied by the Iyaelima people is accessible via the Lokoro, which flows through the center, the Lokolo in the northern part and Lula in the south. This region has been the location for studies of Bonobos in the wild.
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