the congo flows mostly west from kisangani just below the falls, then slowly bends southwest, passing by mbandaka, joining with the ubangi river, and running into the pool malebo (stanley pool). kinshasa (formerly léopoldville) and brazzaville are on opposite sides of the river at the pool, where the river narrows and falls through a few cataracts in deep canyons (collectively known as the livingstone falls), running by matadi and boma, and into the sea at the small town of muanda.