The geography of modern countries has developed in such a way that there is a fairly large distance between the capitals of different states: Washington and Ottawa - 900 kilometers, from Paris to Berlin - 880 kilometers. However, there are unique cases in the world when one capital is separated from another by a few kilometers.
On the territory of Africa there are two countries with the same name: the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo with the capitals Kinshasa and Brazzaville respectively. The cities are separated by the river of the same name and are located at a distance of 7.5 kilometers from each other. There is no bridge between the cities that you can cross the river and get from Kinshasa to Brazzaville. Railway stations are also located opposite, and the stations are separated by the same river.
Why are the capitals so close to each other?
Previously, both African states had the status of European colonies: the democratic Republic of the Congo belonged to Belgium, and "simply" the Republic of the Congo was dependent on France.
As European colonialism began to take its toll, national liberation movements became strong in Africa. In the current DRC, in the spring of 1960, a new parliament was formed, which 2 months later announced that the country was becoming independent of France. Then the state proclaimed itself the Republic of the Congo. Later, the second colony declared itself a sovereign state with the same name as the former subjects of Belgium. For some time, the countries bore the same name, and distinguished them by the names of the capitals - Congo-Leopoldville and Congo-Brazzaville.
Who's even closer?
Geographically, Rome is located 3 kilometers from the Vatican, but these capitals are not separated, since the Vatican, although a sovereign territory, is under Italian jurisdiction. The Vatican is the residence of the Pope, and only clergy can live in it - the staff usually goes there to work from Italy, so the state is not considered to be separate directly 100%.
There are cities in the world that are considered the capital of two states at the same time: Nicosia is the capital of Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and Jerusalem is the main city of Israel and Palestine.
As for Europe, the smallest distance between the capitals is recorded between Bratislava and Vienna - the main cities of Slovakia and Austria: the cities are only 65 kilometers away from each other.
Flight between the two Congos
In fact , a direct flight from Brazzaville to Kinshasa takes 5 minutes, but the airline claims 35, taking into account landing and take-off.
Residents of the capitals have long hoped that a bridge will stand between the cities so that they do not have to use boats, boats and barges. Depending on the political situation, the population of cities regularly changes their place of residence, moving to one capital, then to another.
