View source for Kisantu

{{Short description|Town in the Democratic Republic of the Congo}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name= Kisantu
|official_name= ''Ville de Kisantu''
|settlement_type= Town
|nicknames=
|image_skyline=File:Kisantu.jpg
|image_caption =Catholic Jesuits' mission at Kisantu, circa 1942
|image_flag=
|image_seal=
|pushpin_map=Democratic Republic of the Congo
|map_caption=Location in the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]]
|subdivision_type=[[Country]]
|subdivision_name=[[Democratic Republic of the Congo|DR Congo]]
|subdivision_type1=[[Provinces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo|Province]]
|subdivision_name1=[[Kongo Central]]
|parts_type             = Communes
|parts_style            = para
|p1                     = Kisantu
|p2                     = [[Lukaya District]]
|leader_title=
|leader_name=
|total_type= Town
|area_note=
|area_magnitude=
|area_total_km2=
|area_water_km2=
|population_as_of= 2021
|population_metro= 78,000
|population_total=
|population_density_km2= auto
|blank_name_sec1= National language
|blank_info_sec1= [[Kituba language|Kituba]]
|timezone=[[Central Africa Time|CAT]]
|utc_offset=+1
|coordinates = {{coord|05|07|44|S|15|05|05|E|region:CD|display=inline,title}}
|blank1_name_sec2 = Climate
|blank1_info_sec2 = [[Tropical savanna climate|Aw]]
|website=
|footnotes=
}}
'''Kisantu''', is a town in the western [[Democratic Republic of Congo]], lying south west of [[Kinshasa]], on the [[Inkisi River]]. It is known for its large [[cathedral]] and for its [[botanical garden]]s, which include an [[arboretum]] of indigenous trees.<ref name="1R">{{cite web| date=16 October 2022 |url=https://wildernessexplorersafrica.com/african-safari-destinations/dr-congo-safaris-tours-holidays/kisantu-town-drc/ |title=Kisantu Town DRC |work=Wildernessexplorersafrica.com |
access-date=16 October 2022 |author=Wilderness Explorers Africa |location=Kampala, Uganda}}</ref>
==Location==
Kisantu is located in [[Kongo Central|Kongo Central Province]], along the eastern bank of the Inkisi River, as it flows northwards to empty into the [[Congo River]]. On the western bank of the river, is the settlement called '''Inkisi'''. Sometimes the metropolitan area is referred to as '''Inkisi-Kisantu'''. This is approximately {{convert|231|km|0}} northeast of the city of [[Matadi]], the provincial headquarters.<ref name="2R">{{google maps| url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Matadi,+Democratic+Republic+of+the+Congo/Kisantu,+Democratic+Republic+of+the+Congo/@-5.4812824,14.1469817,8.25z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x1a5ccc0a52f159dd:0xfa3b643d669d0836!2m2!1d13.4627375!2d-5.8508719!1m5!1m1!1s0x1a41f4183ce0c09f:0x59686e48bd005a5!2m2!1d15.0908147!2d-5.1382186!3e0 |title=Road Distance Between Matadi, DR Congo And Kisantu, DR Congo |access-date=16 October 2022}}</ref>
Kisantu is located approximately {{convert|104|km|0}} southwest of the city of [[Kinshasa]], the national capital.<ref name="3R">{{google maps| url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Kinshasa,+Democratic+Republic+of+the+Congo/Kisantu,+Democratic+Republic+of+the+Congo/@-4.5355959,15.1515232,7.5z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x1a6a3130fe066a8b:0x168b7e4e1f52378d!2m2!1d15.2662931!2d-4.4419311!1m5!1m1!1s0x1a41f4183ce0c09f:0x59686e48bd005a5!2m2!1d15.0908147!2d-5.1382186!3e0 |title=Road Distance Between Kinshasa, DR Congo And Kisantu, DR Congo |access-date=16 October 2022}}</ref>
The geographical coordinates of the town are: 05°07'44.0"S, 15°05'05.0"E (Latitude:-5.128889; Longitude:15.084722).<ref name="4R">{{google maps| url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/5%C2%B007'44.0%22S+15%C2%B005'05.0%22E/@-5.0922584,15.369007,119018m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x8552bfb138186f54!8m2!3d-5.1288889!4d15.0847222 |
title=Location of Kisantu, Democratic Republic f the Congo | access-date=16 October 2022}}</ref> The town is located at an average elevation of {{convert|404|m|ft}} above [[mean sea level]].<ref name="5R">{{cite web| work=Getamap.net |date=16 November 2022 |title=Elevation of Kisantu Town, DR Congo | url=https://www.getamap.net/maps/democratic_republic_of_the_congo/congo_democratic_republic_of_the_(general)/_kisantu/ | author=Get A Map |access-date=16 October 2022}}</ref>
==Overview==
One of the tourist attractions to he town is the '''Kisantu Botanical Gardens''' (French: Jardin Botanique de Kisantu (KISA)).
They were established in 1900 by Father Justin Gillet, a [[Jesuit priest]]. Between 2004 and 2008, the gardens were rehabilitated with "the support of the [[European Union]] and the National Botanic Garden of Belgium".<ref name="6R">{{cite web| url=https://plants.jstor.org/partner/KISA |title=Jardin Botanique de Kisantu (Kisantu Botanical Gardens) |date=16 October 2022 | work=[[Global Plants]] |access-date=16 October 2022 |format=Translated from the original French language}}</ref>
The botanical gardens occupy an area that measures approximately {{convert|225|ha|acre}}, bordered to the west by the Inkisi River. There are over {{convert|12.5|km|0}} of roads and  pedestrian pathways within the gardens. The gardens attract researchers, botanists, naturalists, school children and ordinary tourists from inside and outside the Democratic Republic of the Congo.<ref name="6R"/>
==Population==
As of October 2022, the article in this reference estimated the population of Kisantu Town at approximately 78,000 people.<ref name="1R"/>
== Transport ==
Kisantu is served by a station on the national railway system. It also has an [[Inkisi Airport|airport]].<ref name="GCM">{{GCM|FZAS}}</ref> A good national road (N1), leads north to Kinshasa and southwest to he port city of [[Matadi]].<ref name="8R">{{google maps| url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/5%C2%B010'00.0%22S+15%C2%B000'00.0%22E/@-5.0981114,14.8066229,57815m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x590ecc3e8ff5ef26!8m2!3d-5.1666667!4d15 |title=Map Showing National Road N1, In DRCongo |access-date=16 October 2022}}</ref>
==Prominent people==
The legendary DR Congolese saxophonist, composer, bandleader, producer, record label founder, and music-business executive, [[Verckys Kiamuangana Mateta]] (19 May 1944 – 13 October 2022), was born in Kisantu.<ref name="9R">{{cite web|work=ACPCongo.com | url=https://acpcongo.com/index.php/2022/10/13/le-saxophoniste-verckys-kiamuangana-a-tire-sa-reverence-jeudi-a-kinshasa/ |
title=Saxophonist Verckys Kiamuangana bowed out Thursday in Kinshasa |date=13 October 2022 |author=bopili |access-date=16 October 2022 |location=Kinshasa, DRCongo |format=Translated from the original French language}}</ref>
== See also ==
* [[Railway stations in DRCongo]]
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* {{cite journal |doi=10.1155/2016/6596095 |title=Prevalence of ''Schistosoma mansoni'' Infection in Four Health Areas of Kisantu Health Zone, Democratic Republic of the Congo |date=2016 |last1=Khonde Kumbu |first1=R. |last2=Mbanzulu Makola |first2=K. |last3=Bin |first3=Lu |journal=Advances in Medicine |volume=2016 |pages=1–5 |doi-access=free |pmid=27579346 |pmc=4992513 }}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Kisantu| ]]
[[Category:Populated places in Kongo Central]]