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Continent | Africa |
---|---|
Region | Southern Africa |
Coordinates | 12°30′S18°30′E / 12.500°S 18.500°E |
Area | Ranked 22nd |
• Total | 1,246,700 km2 (481,400 sq mi) |
Coastline | 1,600 km (990 mi) |
Borders | Land boundaries: 5,369 km DROC 2,646 km Republic of Congo 231 km Namibia 1,427 km Zambia 1,065 km |
Highest point | Mount Moco, 2,620 m |
Lowest point | Atlantic Ocean, sea level |
Longest river | Congo River, 4,344 m |
Terrain | narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior plateau |
Natural resources | petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium |
Natural hazards | occasional heavy rainfall with accompanying floods |
Environmental issues | deforestation, overgrazing of meadows, air pollution, waste disposal |
Exclusive economic zone | 518,433 km2 (200,168 sq mi) |
Angola is located on the western Atlantic Coast of Southern Africa between Namibia and the Republic of the Congo. It also is bordered by the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia to the east. The country consists of a sparsely watered and somewhat sterile coastal plain extending inland for a distance varying from 50 to 160 km (31 to 99 mi). Slightly inland and parallel to the coast is a belt of hills and mountains and behind those a large plateau. The total land size is 1,246,700 km2 (481,400 sq mi). It has an Exclusive Economic Zone of 518,433 km2 (200,168 sq mi).
There are three regions of rock formations in Angola: the littoral zone, the median zone formed by a series of hills more or less parallel with the coast, and the central plateau. [1]
The central plateau consists of ancient crystalline rocks with granites overlain by non-fossiliferous sandstones and conglomerates of Paleozoic age. The outcrops are largely hidden under laterite. The median zone is composed largely of crystalline rocks with granites and some Palaeozoic unfossiliferous rocks. The littoral zone contains the only fossiliferous strata. These are of Tertiary and Cretaceous ages, the latter rocks resting on a reddish sandstone of older date. The Cretaceous rocks of the Dombe Grande region (near Benguela) are of Albian age and belong to the Acanthoceras mamillari zone. The beds containing Schloenbachia inflata are referable to the Gault. Rocks of Tertiary age are met with at Dombe Grande, Moçâmedes and near Luanda. The sandstones with gypsum, copper and sulfur of Dombe are doubtfully considered to be of Triassic age. Recent eruptive rocks, mainly basalts, form a line of hills almost bare of vegetation between Benguela and Moçâmedes. Nepheline basalts and liparites occur at Dombe Grande. The presence of gum copal in considerable quantities in the superficial rocks is characteristic of certain regions. [1]
The geology and outline of the west coast of Angola is related to the opening of South Atlantic that started in the Early Cretaceous and continued until the Eocene, which is reflected in the invertebrate and vertebrate fossil fauna. [2] The diamond mine of Catoca preserved unexpected ancient dinosaur, mammal and crocodylomorph tracks with 128 Million years. [3]
Angola has a total land area of 1,246,700 km2 (481,354 sq mi) [4] and is approximately twice the size of France and 617,718 times the size of Monaco.
Coastline: 1,600 km [4]
Maritime claims:
Like the rest of tropical Africa, Angola experiences distinct, alternating rainy and dry seasons. In the north, the rainy season may last for as long as seven months—usually from September to April, with perhaps a brief slackening in January or February. In the south, the rainy season begins later, in November, and lasts until about February. The dry season (cacimbo) is often characterized by a heavy morning mist. In general, precipitation is higher in the north, but at any latitude it is greater in the interior than along the coast and increases with altitude. Temperatures fall with distance from the equator and with altitude and tend to rise closer to the Atlantic Ocean. Thus, at Soyo, at the mouth of the Congo River, the average annual temperature is about 26°C, but it is under 16°C at Huambo on the temperate central plateau. The coolest months are July and August (in the middle of the dry season), when frost may sometimes form at higher altitudes. [5]
Climate data for Luanda (1961-1990, extremes 1879-present) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 33.9 (93.0) | 34.1 (93.4) | 37.2 (99.0) | 36.1 (97.0) | 36.1 (97.0) | 35.0 (95.0) | 28.9 (84.0) | 28.3 (82.9) | 31.0 (87.8) | 31.2 (88.2) | 36.1 (97.0) | 33.6 (92.5) | 37.2 (99.0) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 29.5 (85.1) | 30.5 (86.9) | 30.7 (87.3) | 30.2 (86.4) | 28.8 (83.8) | 25.7 (78.3) | 23.9 (75.0) | 24.0 (75.2) | 25.4 (77.7) | 26.8 (80.2) | 28.4 (83.1) | 28.6 (83.5) | 27.7 (81.9) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 26.7 (80.1) | 28.5 (83.3) | 28.6 (83.5) | 28.2 (82.8) | 27.0 (80.6) | 23.9 (75.0) | 22.1 (71.8) | 22.1 (71.8) | 23.5 (74.3) | 25.2 (77.4) | 26.7 (80.1) | 26.9 (80.4) | 25.8 (78.4) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 23.9 (75.0) | 24.7 (76.5) | 24.6 (76.3) | 24.3 (75.7) | 23.3 (73.9) | 20.3 (68.5) | 18.7 (65.7) | 18.8 (65.8) | 20.2 (68.4) | 22.0 (71.6) | 23.3 (73.9) | 23.5 (74.3) | 22.3 (72.1) |
Record low °C (°F) | 18.0 (64.4) | 16.1 (61.0) | 20.0 (68.0) | 17.8 (64.0) | 17.8 (64.0) | 12.8 (55.0) | 11.0 (51.8) | 12.2 (54.0) | 15.0 (59.0) | 17.8 (64.0) | 17.2 (63.0) | 17.8 (64.0) | 11.0 (51.8) |
Average rainfall mm (inches) | 30 (1.2) | 36 (1.4) | 114 (4.5) | 136 (5.4) | 16 (0.6) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 1 (0.0) | 2 (0.1) | 7 (0.3) | 32 (1.3) | 31 (1.2) | 405 (16) |
Average rainy days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 4 | 5 | 9 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 53 |
Average relative humidity (%) | 80 | 78 | 80 | 83 | 83 | 82 | 83 | 85 | 84 | 81 | 82 | 81 | 82 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 217.0 | 203.4 | 207.7 | 192.0 | 229.4 | 207.0 | 167.4 | 148.8 | 150.0 | 167.4 | 186.0 | 201.5 | 2,277.6 |
Mean daily sunshine hours | 7.0 | 7.2 | 6.7 | 6.4 | 7.4 | 6.9 | 5.4 | 4.8 | 5.0 | 5.4 | 6.2 | 6.5 | 6.2 |
Source 1: Deutscher Wetterdienst [6] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: Meteo Climat (record highs and lows) [7] |
Climate data for Huambo (1941–1970) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 31.2 (88.2) | 31.1 (88.0) | 29.8 (85.6) | 29.5 (85.1) | 29.0 (84.2) | 28.4 (83.1) | 28.5 (83.3) | 30.9 (87.6) | 32.0 (89.6) | 32.0 (89.6) | 30.7 (87.3) | 30.4 (86.7) | 32.0 (89.6) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 24.9 (76.8) | 25.2 (77.4) | 25.0 (77.0) | 25.5 (77.9) | 25.4 (77.7) | 24.6 (76.3) | 25.0 (77.0) | 27.2 (81.0) | 28.7 (83.7) | 27.3 (81.1) | 25.2 (77.4) | 24.9 (76.8) | 25.7 (78.3) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 19.8 (67.6) | 19.8 (67.6) | 19.8 (67.6) | 19.6 (67.3) | 18.0 (64.4) | 16.2 (61.2) | 16.6 (61.9) | 18.8 (65.8) | 21.0 (69.8) | 20.8 (69.4) | 19.8 (67.6) | 19.8 (67.6) | 19.2 (66.6) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 14.4 (57.9) | 14.2 (57.6) | 14.4 (57.9) | 13.7 (56.7) | 10.5 (50.9) | 7.8 (46.0) | 7.9 (46.2) | 10.3 (50.5) | 13.0 (55.4) | 14.2 (57.6) | 14.3 (57.7) | 14.3 (57.7) | 12.4 (54.3) |
Record low °C (°F) | 8.9 (48.0) | 8.4 (47.1) | 9.3 (48.7) | 7.4 (45.3) | 4.6 (40.3) | 2.1 (35.8) | 2.0 (35.6) | 4.7 (40.5) | 7.7 (45.9) | 9.4 (48.9) | 7.5 (45.5) | 9.2 (48.6) | 2.0 (35.6) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 220 (8.7) | 179 (7.0) | 239 (9.4) | 146 (5.7) | 14 (0.6) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 1 (0.0) | 19 (0.7) | 119 (4.7) | 227 (8.9) | 234 (9.2) | 1,398 (55.0) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 20 | 17 | 22 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 16 | 21 | 21 | 138 |
Average relative humidity (%) | 72 | 67 | 73 | 66 | 48 | 38 | 33 | 29 | 38 | 57 | 69 | 71 | 55 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 142.6 | 141.3 | 142.6 | 171.0 | 241.8 | 270.0 | 269.7 | 254.2 | 201.0 | 164.3 | 135.0 | 139.5 | 2,273 |
Mean daily sunshine hours | 4.6 | 5.0 | 4.6 | 5.7 | 7.8 | 9.0 | 8.7 | 8.2 | 6.7 | 5.3 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 6.2 |
Source: Deutscher Wetterdienst [8] |
Climate data for Lubango (1931–1960) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 30.1 (86.2) | 30.7 (87.3) | 30.1 (86.2) | 29.1 (84.4) | 29.8 (85.6) | 28.1 (82.6) | 27.7 (81.9) | 30.1 (86.2) | 31.4 (88.5) | 34.4 (93.9) | 32.0 (89.6) | 31.1 (88.0) | 34.4 (93.9) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 25.0 (77.0) | 24.6 (76.3) | 24.6 (76.3) | 24.9 (76.8) | 24.8 (76.6) | 23.6 (74.5) | 24.2 (75.6) | 26.2 (79.2) | 28.2 (82.8) | 28.0 (82.4) | 26.3 (79.3) | 25.3 (77.5) | 25.5 (77.9) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 19.0 (66.2) | 18.8 (65.8) | 18.8 (65.8) | 18.7 (65.7) | 17.3 (63.1) | 15.8 (60.4) | 16.2 (61.2) | 18.6 (65.5) | 20.8 (69.4) | 20.7 (69.3) | 19.8 (67.6) | 19.2 (66.6) | 18.6 (65.5) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 13.1 (55.6) | 12.9 (55.2) | 13.0 (55.4) | 12.5 (54.5) | 9.8 (49.6) | 7.9 (46.2) | 8.3 (46.9) | 11.0 (51.8) | 13.4 (56.1) | 13.4 (56.1) | 13.2 (55.8) | 13.2 (55.8) | 11.8 (53.2) |
Record low °C (°F) | 5.3 (41.5) | 5.4 (41.7) | 2.0 (35.6) | 3.2 (37.8) | 0.6 (33.1) | −1.0 (30.2) | −1.0 (30.2) | 0.0 (32.0) | 4.6 (40.3) | 4.1 (39.4) | 5.1 (41.2) | 3.9 (39.0) | −1.0 (30.2) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 139.7 (5.50) | 152.8 (6.02) | 171.6 (6.76) | 93.5 (3.68) | 5.5 (0.22) | 0.1 (0.00) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.4 (0.02) | 4.3 (0.17) | 70.4 (2.77) | 118.0 (4.65) | 152.6 (6.01) | 909.0 (35.79) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 15 | 14 | 17 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 14 | 17 | 100 |
Average relative humidity (%) | 65 | 67 | 69 | 63 | 47 | 40 | 34 | 30 | 33 | 49 | 59 | 63 | 52 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 164.3 | 163.9 | 173.6 | 204.0 | 272.8 | 285.0 | 282.1 | 282.1 | 240.0 | 213.9 | 207.0 | 201.5 | 2,690.2 |
Mean daily sunshine hours | 5.3 | 5.8 | 5.6 | 6.8 | 8.8 | 9.5 | 9.1 | 9.1 | 8.0 | 6.9 | 6.9 | 6.5 | 7.4 |
Source: Deutscher Wetterdienst [9] |
Climate data for Lobito | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 35.0 (95.0) | 35.0 (95.0) | 34.4 (93.9) | 35.6 (96.1) | 33.3 (91.9) | 33.3 (91.9) | 28.9 (84.0) | 29.4 (84.9) | 28.3 (82.9) | 30.6 (87.1) | 33.9 (93.0) | 32.8 (91.0) | 35.6 (96.1) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 28.3 (82.9) | 29.4 (84.9) | 30.6 (87.1) | 30.0 (86.0) | 28.3 (82.9) | 25.6 (78.1) | 23.3 (73.9) | 23.3 (73.9) | 24.4 (75.9) | 26.1 (79.0) | 28.3 (82.9) | 28.3 (82.9) | 27.2 (81.0) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 25.3 (77.5) | 26.4 (79.5) | 27.2 (81.0) | 27.0 (80.6) | 25.0 (77.0) | 22.2 (72.0) | 20.3 (68.5) | 20.0 (68.0) | 21.4 (70.5) | 23.3 (73.9) | 25.3 (77.5) | 25.3 (77.5) | 24.1 (75.4) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 22.2 (72.0) | 23.3 (73.9) | 23.9 (75.0) | 23.9 (75.0) | 21.6 (70.9) | 18.9 (66.0) | 17.2 (63.0) | 16.7 (62.1) | 18.3 (64.9) | 20.6 (69.1) | 22.2 (72.0) | 22.2 (72.0) | 20.9 (69.6) |
Record low °C (°F) | 13.3 (55.9) | 16.1 (61.0) | 18.9 (66.0) | 18.3 (64.9) | 13.9 (57.0) | 12.8 (55.0) | 10.6 (51.1) | 11.7 (53.1) | 12.8 (55.0) | 13.9 (57.0) | 16.1 (61.0) | 17.2 (63.0) | 10.6 (51.1) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 20.3 (0.80) | 38.1 (1.50) | 119.4 (4.70) | 53.3 (2.10) | 2.5 (0.10) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 1.3 (0.05) | 2.5 (0.10) | 30.5 (1.20) | 25.4 (1.00) | 61.0 (2.40) | 354.0 (13.94) |
Source: Sistema de Clasificación Bioclimática Mundial [10] |
Climate data for Moçâmedes | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 34.8 (94.6) | 34.2 (93.6) | 37.4 (99.3) | 38.9 (102.0) | 40.3 (104.5) | 38.5 (101.3) | 36.7 (98.1) | 27.3 (81.1) | 30.0 (86.0) | 30.0 (86.0) | 33.7 (92.7) | 31.7 (89.1) | 40.3 (104.5) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 27.0 (80.6) | 28.0 (82.4) | 28.9 (84.0) | 27.9 (82.2) | 25.8 (78.4) | 22.4 (72.3) | 20.6 (69.1) | 20.9 (69.6) | 22.4 (72.3) | 23.6 (74.5) | 25.3 (77.5) | 25.9 (78.6) | 24.9 (76.8) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 23.0 (73.4) | 24.7 (76.5) | 25.6 (78.1) | 24.2 (75.6) | 21.1 (70.0) | 18.3 (64.9) | 17.4 (63.3) | 17.9 (64.2) | 19.2 (66.6) | 20.4 (68.7) | 21.9 (71.4) | 22.5 (72.5) | 21.4 (70.5) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 19.1 (66.4) | 19.8 (67.6) | 20.7 (69.3) | 18.7 (65.7) | 14.7 (58.5) | 12.8 (55.0) | 13.0 (55.4) | 13.8 (56.8) | 14.9 (58.8) | 15.9 (60.6) | 17.1 (62.8) | 17.7 (63.9) | 16.5 (61.7) |
Record low °C (°F) | 13.0 (55.4) | 12.1 (53.8) | 12.6 (54.7) | 10.2 (50.4) | 7.4 (45.3) | 4.5 (40.1) | 6.5 (43.7) | 5.2 (41.4) | 7.2 (45.0) | 8.2 (46.8) | 10.5 (50.9) | 11.2 (52.2) | 4.5 (40.1) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 7.2 (0.28) | 10.0 (0.39) | 17.1 (0.67) | 9.7 (0.38) | 0.1 (0.00) | 0.1 (0.00) | 0.2 (0.01) | 0.2 (0.01) | 0.3 (0.01) | 1.1 (0.04) | 2.1 (0.08) | 2.9 (0.11) | 51.0 (2.01) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 13 |
Average relative humidity (%) | 80 | 79 | 78 | 79 | 82 | 84 | 84 | 85 | 84 | 83 | 80 | 79 | 81 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 210.8 | 209.1 | 232.5 | 231.0 | 217.0 | 141.0 | 105.4 | 111.6 | 129.0 | 155.0 | 213.0 | 220.1 | 2,175.5 |
Mean daily sunshine hours | 6.8 | 7.4 | 7.5 | 7.7 | 7.0 | 4.7 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 4.3 | 5.0 | 7.1 | 7.1 | 6.0 |
Source: Deutscher Wetterdienst [11] |
Climate data for Luena, Moxico Province (1940–1960) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 32.7 (90.9) | 32.4 (90.3) | 32.0 (89.6) | 33.4 (92.1) | 32.0 (89.6) | 31.0 (87.8) | 30.0 (86.0) | 33.5 (92.3) | 35.0 (95.0) | 34.3 (93.7) | 34.0 (93.2) | 32.4 (90.3) | 35.0 (95.0) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 26.9 (80.4) | 27.0 (80.6) | 26.8 (80.2) | 27.3 (81.1) | 27.1 (80.8) | 25.7 (78.3) | 26.2 (79.2) | 28.8 (83.8) | 30.8 (87.4) | 29.6 (85.3) | 27.3 (81.1) | 26.9 (80.4) | 27.5 (81.5) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 21.8 (71.2) | 21.7 (71.1) | 21.6 (70.9) | 21.4 (70.5) | 19.4 (66.9) | 17.2 (63.0) | 17.4 (63.3) | 20.0 (68.0) | 22.6 (72.7) | 22.9 (73.2) | 21.8 (71.2) | 21.6 (70.9) | 20.8 (69.4) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 16.6 (61.9) | 16.4 (61.5) | 16.3 (61.3) | 15.5 (59.9) | 11.8 (53.2) | 8.8 (47.8) | 8.7 (47.7) | 11.5 (52.7) | 14.5 (58.1) | 16.2 (61.2) | 16.2 (61.2) | 16.4 (61.5) | 14.0 (57.2) |
Record low °C (°F) | 11.0 (51.8) | 10.7 (51.3) | 12.3 (54.1) | 9.1 (48.4) | 3.9 (39.0) | 3.1 (37.6) | 2.7 (36.9) | 4.6 (40.3) | 8.7 (47.7) | 11.0 (51.8) | 11.0 (51.8) | 11.5 (52.7) | 2.7 (36.9) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 226 (8.9) | 192 (7.6) | 198 (7.8) | 99 (3.9) | 6 (0.2) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 2 (0.1) | 20 (0.8) | 90 (3.5) | 169 (6.7) | 217 (8.5) | 1,219 (48.0) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 22 | 20 | 23 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 20 | 23 | 138 |
Average relative humidity (%) | 77 | 77 | 77 | 71 | 57 | 47 | 42 | 39 | 44 | 61 | 74 | 77 | 62 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 130.2 | 130.0 | 142.6 | 192.0 | 263.5 | 270.0 | 285.2 | 269.7 | 213.0 | 176.7 | 135.0 | 124.0 | 2,331.9 |
Mean daily sunshine hours | 4.2 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 6.4 | 8.5 | 9.0 | 9.2 | 8.7 | 7.1 | 5.7 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 6.4 |
Source: Deutscher Wetterdienst [12] |
Land use | (2018) |
---|---|
Arable land | 3.9% |
Permanent crops | 0.3% |
Permanent pasture | 41.5% |
Forest | 54.3% |
Angola has four principal natural regions: the arid coastal lowland, stretching from Namibia to Luanda and characterized by low plains and terraces; green hills and mountains, rising inland from the coast into a great escarpment; a large area of high inland plains of dry savanna, called the high plateau (planalto), which extends eastward and south-east from the escarpment; and rain forest in the north and in Cabinda. [13] [5] The highest point in Angola is Morro de Môco, at 2,620 m. Elevations generally range from 910 to 1,830 m (3,000 to 6,000 ft).
The coast is for the most part flat, with occasional low cliffs and bluffs of red sandstone. There is but one deep inlet of the sea – Great Fish Bay (or Baía dos Tigres). Farther north are Port Alexander, Little Fish Bay and Lobito Bay, while shallower bays are numerous. Lobito Bay has water sufficient to allow large ships to unload close inshore. [1] The coastal lowland rises from the sea in a series of low terraces. This region varies in width from about 25 kilometres (16 mi) near Benguela to more than 150 kilometres (93 mi) in the Cuanza River Valley just south of Angola's capital, Luanda, and is markedly different from Angola's highland mass. The Atlantic Ocean's cold, northwardflowing Benguela Current substantially reduces precipitation along the coast, making the region relatively arid or nearly so south of Benguela (where it forms the northern extension of the Namib Desert), and quite dry even in its northern reaches. Even where, as around Luanda, the average annual rainfall may be as much as fifty centimeters, it is not uncommon for the rains to fail. Given this pattern of precipitation, the far south is marked by sand dunes, which give way to dry scrub along the middle coast. Portions of the northern coastal plain are covered by thick brush. [5]
The approach to the great central plateau of Africa is marked by the west-central highlands, a series of irregular escarpments and cuestas parallel to the coast at distances ranging from 20 to 100 kilometres (12 to 62 mi) inland. The Cuanza River divides the mountain zone into two parts. The northern part rises gradually from the coastal zone to an average elevation of 500 metres (1,600 ft), with crests as high as 1,000 to 1,800 metres (3,300 to 5,900 ft). South of the Cuanza River, the hills rise sharply from the coastal lowlands and form a high escarpment, extending from a point east of Luanda and running south through Namibia. [5] The highest peak is Mount Moco (2,620 m or 8,600 ft),[ citation needed ] and the escarpment is steepest in the far south in the Serra da Chella mountain range. [5] In Benguela Province other high points are Loviti (2,370 m or 7,780 ft), in 12° 5' S., and Mount Elonga (2,300 m or 7,500 ft). South of the Cuanza is the volcanic mountain Caculo-Cabaza (1,000 m or 3,300 ft). [1]
The high plateau, with an altitude ranging from 1,200 to 1,800 m (3,900 to 5,900 ft), lies to the east of the hills and mountains and dominates Angola's terrain. The surface of the plateau is typically flat or rolling, but parts of the Benguela Plateau and the Humpata Highland area of the Hufla Plateau in the south reach heights of 2,500 metres (8,200 ft) and more. The Malanje Plateau to the north rarely exceeds 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) in height. The Benguela Plateau and the coastal area in the immediate environs of Benguela and Lobito, the Bie Plateau, the Malanje Plateau, and a small section of the Hufla Plateau near the town of Lubango have long been among the most densely settled areas in Angola. [5]
The Zambezi River and several tributaries of the Congo River have their sources in Angola. [13] A large number of rivers originate in the central uplands, but their patterns of flow are diverse and their ultimate outlets varied. A number flow in a more or less westerly course to the Atlantic Ocean, providing water for irrigation in the dry coastal strip and the potential for hydroelectric power, only some of which had been realized by 1988.[ needs update ] Two of Angola's most important rivers, the Cuanza (Kwanza) and the Cunene (Kunene), take a more indirect route to the Atlantic, the Cuanza flowing north and the Cunene flowing south before turning west. The Cuanza is the only river wholly within Angola that is navigable—for nearly 200 kilometers from its mouth—by boats of commercially or militarily significant size. The Congo River, whose mouth and western end form a small portion of Angola's northern border with Zaire, is also navigable. [5]
North of the Lunda Divide the Kwango and many other streams flow north from the tableland to join the Kasai River (one of the largest affluents of the Congo), which in its upper course forms for fully 300 mi (480 km) the boundary between Angola and the Congo. [1] South of the divide some rivers flow into the Zambezi River system and thence to the Indian Ocean, others to the Okavango River (as the Cubango River is called along the border with Namibia and in Botswana) and thence to the Okavango Swamp in Botswana. The tributaries of the Cubango River and several of the southern rivers flowing to the Atlantic are seasonal, completely dry much of the year. [5]
Natural resources: petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium [4]
Irrigated land:860 km2 (330 sq mi) (2014)
Natural hazards: locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau [4]
Current environmental issues include overuse of pastures and subsequent soil erosion attributable to population pressures; desertification; deforestation of tropical rain forest, in response to both international demand for tropical timber and to domestic use as fuel, resulting in loss of biodiversity; soil erosion contributing to water pollution and silting of rivers and dams; and inadequate supplies of potable water. [4]
Angola is party to the following international environmental agreements: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution (MARPOL 73/78). [4]
Both flora and fauna are those characteristic of the greater part of tropical Africa. As far south as Benguela the coast region is rich in oil palms and mangroves. In the northern part of the province are dense forests. In the South towards the Kunene are regions of dense thorn scrub. Rubber vines and trees are abundant, but in some districts their number has been considerably reduced by the primitive methods adopted by native collectors of rubber. The species most common are various root rubbers, notably the Carpodinus chylorrhiza. This species and other varieties of carpodinus are very widely distributed. Landolphias are also found. The coffee, cotton and Guinea pepper plants are indigenous, and the tobacco plant flourishes in several districts. Among the trees are several which yield excellent timber, such as the tacula (Pterocarpus tinctorius), which grows to an immense size, its wood being blood-red in colour, and the Angola mahogany. The bark of the musuemba (Albizzia coriaria) is largely used in the tanning of leather. The mulundo bears a fruit about the size of a cricket ball covered with a hard green shell and containing scarlet pips like a pomegranate. [1]
The fauna includes the lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, giraffe, rhinoceros, hippopotamus, buffalo, zebra, kudu and many other kinds of antelope, wild pig, ostrich and crocodile. [1] Angola previously served as a habitat for the endangered African wild dog, [14] which is now deemed to be extinct within the entire country, stemming from human activities during the period 1965 to 1991.[ citation needed ] Among fish are the barbel, bream and African yellow fish. [1]
The following ecoregions have been described in Angola:
Geography – note: the province of Cabinda is an exclave, separated from the rest of the country by the Democratic Republic of the Congo
This is a list of the extreme points of Angola, the points that are farther north, south, east or west than any other location.
Angola
Angola (mainland)
The geography of Mozambique consists mostly of coastal lowlands with uplands in its center and high plateaus in the northwest. There are also mountains in the western portion. The country is located on the east coast of southern Africa, directly west of the island of Madagascar. Mozambique has a tropical climate with two seasons, a wet season from October to March and a dry season from April to September.
At 824,292 km2 (318,261 sq mi), Namibia is the world's thirty-fourth largest country. After Mongolia, Namibia is the second least densely populated country in the world. Namibia got its name from the Namib desert that stretches along the coast of the Atlantic. It is also known for its wildlife.
The Republic of the Congo is located in the western part of central Africa. Situated on the Equator, it is bordered by the Angolan exclave of Cabinda to the south (231 km), the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north and east (1,229 km), the Central African Republic (487 km) and Cameroon (494 km) to the north and Gabon to the west (2,567 km). Congo has a 169 km long Atlantic coast with several important ports. The Republic of the Congo covers an area of 342,000 km², of which 341,500 km² is land while 500 km² is water. Congo claims 200 nautical miles (370 km) of territorial sea.
South Africa occupies the southern tip of Africa, its coastline stretching more than 2,850 kilometres from the desert border with Namibia on the Atlantic (western) coast southwards around the tip of Africa and then northeast to the border with Mozambique on the Indian (eastern) coast. The low-lying coastal zone is narrow for much of that distance, soon giving way to a mountainous escarpment that separates the coast from the high inland plateau. In some places, notably the province of KwaZulu-Natal in the east, a greater distance separates the coast from the escarpment. Although much of the country is classified as semi-arid, it has considerable variation in climate as well as topography. The total land area is 1,220,813 km2 (471,359 sq mi). It has the 23rd largest Exclusive Economic Zone of 1,535,538 km2 (592,875 sq mi).
The culture of Angola is influenced by the Portuguese. Portugal occupied the coastal enclave Luanda, and later also Benguela, since the 16th/17th centuries, and expanded into the territory of what is now Angola in the 19th/20th centuries, ruling it until 1975. Both countries share prevailing cultural aspects: the Portuguese language and Roman Catholicism. However, present-day Angolan culture is mostly native Bantu, which was mixed with Portuguese culture. The diverse ethnic communities with their own cultural traits, traditions and native languages or dialects include the Ovimbundu, Ambundu, Bakongo, Chokwe, Avambo and other peoples.
Benguela is a province of Angola, situated in the west of the country. It lies on the Atlantic Ocean, and borders the provinces of Cuanza Sul, Namibe, Huila, and Huambo. The province has an area of 39,826 square kilometres (15,377 sq mi) and its capital is Benguela. According to the 2014 census, there were 2,231,385 inhabitants in the province. The current governor of Benguela is Isaac dos Anjos.
Cunene is a province of Angola. It has an area of 87,342 km2 and a population of 990,087 in 2014.
Huambo, formerly Nova Lisboa, is the third-most populous city in Angola, after the capital city Luanda and Lubango, with a population of 595,304 in the city and a population of 713,134 in the municipality of Huambo. The city is the capital of the province of Huambo and is located about 220 km E from Benguela and 600 km SE from Luanda. Huambo is a main hub on the Caminho de Ferro de Benguela (CFB), which runs from the port of Lobito to the Democratic Republic of the Congo's southernmost province, Katanga. Huambo is served by the Albano Machado Airport.
Moçâmedes is a city in southwestern Angola, capital of Namibe Province. The city's current population is 255,000. Founded in 1840 by the Portuguese colonial administration, the city was named Namibe between 1985 and 2016. Moçâmedes has a cool dry climate and desert vegetation, because it is near the Namib Desert.
Lubango, formerly known as Sá da Bandeira, is a municipality in Angola, capital of the Huíla Province, with a population of 914,456 in 2022. The city center had a population of 600,751 in 2014 making it the second-most populous city in Angola after the capital city Luanda.
The Benguela Railway is a Cape gauge railway line that runs through Angola from west to east, being the largest and most important railway line in the country. It also connects to Tenke in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and to the Cape to Cairo Railway.
Iona National Park is the largest and oldest national park in Angola. It is situated in the Southwestern corner of the country, in Namibe Province. It is roughly bound by the Atlantic Ocean to the West, an escarpment to the East that marks the beginning of the interior plateau, the Curoca River to the North, and the Cunene River to the South. It is about 200 kilometres (120 mi) south of the city of Namibe and covers 5,850 square miles (15,200 km2) sq. miles.
Rail transport in Angola consists of three separate Cape gauge lines that do not connect: the northern Luanda Railway, the central Benguela Railway, and the southern Moçâmedes Railway. The lines each connect the Atlantic coast to the interior of the country. A fourth system once linked Gunza and Gabala but is no longer operational.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Angola:
The tourism industry in Angola is based on the country's natural environment, including its rivers, waterfalls and coastline. Angola's tourism industry is relatively new, as much of the country was ravaged during the post-colonial civil war which ended in 2002. Unlike most countries in the region, which generally give US, EU, and many other citizens a visa on arrival or require no visa at all, Angola has complicated visa requirements. This procedure towards visitors places the country at a disadvantage in the competitive international tourism market.
Railway stations in Angola include:
The Angolan Scarp savanna and woodlands is an ecoregion located on the coast of Angola, an area with a variety of habitats and rich in wildlife including many endemic birds and animals.
Portuguese Angola refers to Angola during the historic period when it was a territory under Portuguese rule in southwestern Africa. In the same context, it was known until 1951 as Portuguese West Africa.
Prostitution in Angola is illegal and prevalent since the 1990s. Prostitution increased further at the end of the civil war in 2001. Prohibition is not consistently enforced. Many women engage in prostitution due to poverty. It was estimated in 2013 that there were about 33,00 sex workers in the country. Many Namibian women enter the country illegally, often via the border municipality of Curoca, and travel to towns such as Ondjiva, Lubango and Luanda to work as prostitutes.
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