The
Lighthouse of Muanda
with fluorescent color
In 1482 the Portuguese Diego Cão discovered the estuary
delta of the river Congo and thought he had found his aspired sea route
to India.
The assumption was legitimate as the delta is larger than 20 km.
Only a
second exploration journey three years later made clear that the Congo
is not an ocean but a river.
It is in fact an enormous river: 4'400 km long and up to 40 km wide.
At
the estuary, near the city Muanda, the river carries incredible 42'000 m
3
water per second at annual mean.
Therefore it is obvious that the Congo River represents the most
important transport route through Central Africa.
The lighthouse of Muanda enables the shipping traffic to orientate
while passing through the huge estuary delta.
"The light
shall guide your way", is adequately embossed on the silver
coin with an image of the tower.
The colour application on the coin is fluorescent, which gives an
amazing effect in the darkness and thus reproduces the cone of light
from the lighthouse.