The Congo River, formerly known as the Zaire River, is the second-longest river in Africa and the world's deepest recorded river, with depths exceeding 220 meters in certain sections. It flows in a massive curve through the heart of the African continent, crossing the equator twice. The Congo has the second-largest discharge volume in the world, trailing only the Amazon. Its basin is home to the world's second-largest rainforest, a critical 'green lung' for the planet that supports incredible biodiversity, including forest elephants, gorillas, and the bonobo. Because of its massive volume and numerous waterfalls and rapids (such as the Livingstone Falls), the Congo holds immense hydroelectric potential—estimated to be enough to power the entire African continent—though much of this remains untapped. The river remains the primary 'highway' for transport and commerce in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where road networks are often non-existent.