The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
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This artificially coloured ASAR radar image acquired 5 January 2003 shows Lake Mai-Ndombe (which means 'black water') towards top right. The Lake is located in western Congo (Kinshasa), east of the Congo River and south-southeast of Lake Tumba, at an altitude of about 338 m. It covers approximately 890 square miles (2,300 square km) and is about 80 miles (130 km) long and up to 25 miles (40 km) wide. Shallow in depth and irregular in shape, it doubles or triples in size in rainy seasons. This lake forms one of the two main lake systems feeding the Congo River.