Pointe-Noire's harbour is always busy — large ships carry goods in and out, and colourful wooden fishing boats head out to sea every morning before sunrise. Fishermen bring back all kinds of fish including barracuda, mackerel and grouper, which are then sold in the lively beach markets.
The ocean at Pointe-Noire is home to leatherback turtles, which come ashore at night on the nearby beaches to lay their eggs in the sand. These turtles are among the largest reptiles in the world — they can grow to nearly two metres long. Conservation teams carefully protect the nesting sites.
The coastline near Pointe-Noire is also where the Congo River's vast outflow of fresh water meets the salt water of the Atlantic. This mixing zone creates a special environment that supports huge numbers of sea birds, dolphins and fish. Standing on the beach here, you can feel like you are at the edge of the entire African continent.