ABSTRACT
Filled with incredible wildlife and known for its variety of national parks, the Republic of the Congo is located on the western coast of Central Africa, bordered by Angola, Gabon, Cameroon, Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The population of 5.4 million resides mostly in the southern regions of the country, especially in the coastal area of Pointe-Noire, the second largest city after the capital, Brazzaville. Nearly 70 percent of the population lives in these two cities and along the railroad that connects them; the rest of the country is sparsely inhabited by contrast.The population comprises a variety of ethnic groups, including Kongo, Teke, Mbochi, Sangha, Mbere/Mbeti/Kele, Punu, Pygmy, Oubanguiens, Duma, and Makaa. About three-fourths of the population is Christian. Interestingly, about one-sixth of the land in the Congo is set aside for conservation.
