The Congo Free State, also known as the Independent State of the Congo (French: État indépendant du Congo), was a large state and absolute monarchy in Central Africa from 1885 to 1908. It was privately owned by and in a personal union with Leopold II of Belgium; it was not a part of the Kingdom of Belgium, of which he was the constitutional monarch. ...

The Belgian Congo (French: Congo belge, pronounced [kɔ̃ɡo bɛlʒ]; Dutch: Belgisch-Congo) was a Belgian colony in Central Africa from 1908 until independence in 1960. The former colony adopted its present name, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), in 1964.. Colonial rule in the Congo began in the late 19th century. King Leopold II of the Belgians attempted to persuade …

Plants. The basin of the Congo has 70% of Africa's plant cover. It makes up a large portion of Africa's biodiversity with over 600 tree species and 10,000 animal species.. Animals. Many unusual animals live in the Congo Basin. The two species of chimpanzee, for example, live only in the Congo rainforests.The large one is the common chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), and the …