Manika Plateau

The Manika Plateau, also known as the Kolwezi Plateau, is a high-altitude region in the Lualaba Province in the southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. It represents one of the most geologically rich parts of the African continent and is an essential component of the Central African Copperbelt, one of the world's largest deposits of copper and cobalt. The average altitude of the plateau is around 1,500 meters above sea level, which gives it a more temperate, subtropical highland climate compared to the surrounding lowlands. This geological feature has significantly shaped the region's history and economy; mining has been practiced here since the pre-colonial era and was massively industrialized during the Belgian colonial period. The city of Kolwezi, the administrative and economic center of the plateau, is almost entirely dependent on mining. The landscape is characterized by Miombo woodland savanna, although large areas have been heavily altered by mining activities, both open-pit and underground, and the associated urban expansion. This has led to considerable ecological challenges, including deforestation and water pollution.

Nearby cities

Kolwezi

Kolwezi is the capital of Lualaba Province and a global center for the extraction of cobalt and copper minerals.

Fungurume

Fungurume is a mining town in Lualaba Province, central to the Tenke Fungurume mining operations, one of the world's largest.

Mutshatsha

Mutshatsha is a town in Lualaba Province, serving as an important administrative and railway station on the Benguela railway.

More places

Musonoie Mine

The Musonoie mine near Kolwezi is an important site for the extraction of copper and cobalt ores in the Congolese copper belt.

Kolwezi (1978 Battle)

The mining town of Kolwezi was captured by rebels in 1978 during the Shaba invasion and freed by an intervention of French Foreign Legion…

SICOMINES Mine

SICOMINES is a massive joint venture in Kolwezi, ranking among the largest copper and cobalt producers in the country.

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Kamoto Copper Mine

A large underground and open-pit mining operation in the Congolese copper belt.

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Mutanda Mine

One of the most productive cobalt mines in the world, operated in the Lualaba region.

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Kamoa-Kakula Mine

Kamoa-Kakula is a major copper mining complex in Lualaba Province, set to become one of the world's largest copper producers.

Tenke Fungurume Mine

One of the world's largest copper and cobalt mines in the Lualaba Province.

Bunkeya (Yeke Kingdom Capital)

The historical capital of the Yeke Kingdom, founded in the 19th century by King Msiri, was a major trading center for copper and ivory.