Facts in Brief
Angola is situated in the western region of southern
Africa. Its territory is composed of a coast of 1.650 Km and
4.837 Km of land frontier. Angola is bordered to the north
and north-east by the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia
to the south east while Namibia accounts for the southern
border. The maximum north south length of the territory is 1,277 km and
the maximum width from west to east is 1,236 km.
The country can be divided into six geomorphologic zones, namely:
The coastal zone,
The marginal mountain chain
The old table land The
Zaire basin
The Cubango basin The
Zambeze basin
The basin occupy some 60% of the territory characterized by inland tablelands
and by the relief of Atlantic Talude that comes down in the
form of stareis to the ocean. About 65% of the territory is
situated at an altitude of between 1000-1600 meters. One finds
the highest peaks in the central region, namely the Moco Hill (2,620m)
and the Meco Hill (2,538m) situated in Huambo Province.
There are five major rivers in Angola, namely the rivers
Zaire, Kwanza, Cunene, Cubango and Queve.
Name:
Republic of Angola
Capital: Luanda
Date of Independence: 11 November 1975
President: José Eduardo dos Santos
Government: Multi-Party Democracy
Major cities: Luanda, Benguela, Lobito, Huambo,
Lubango, Namibe and Cabinda.
Administrative
divisions: 18 ProvincesOfficial language: Portuguese
Colonizing Country: Portugal
Currency: Kwanza
Religion: Catholic
Main Airport: 4 de Fevereiro in Luanda
Main Harbors: Luanda, Lobito, and Namibe
Main Rivers: Kwanza, Cunene, Zaire
Cubango, and Quevi
Climate Tropical
Angola has two seasons: the rainy and the dry (Cacimbo) seasons. The latter,
which is less warm, lasts between September and April.
Both the rains and the annual variations in temperature levels are
characteristics common to every region. The location of Angola in
the inter-tropical and sub-tropical region of the southern hemisphere,
the nearness to the sea, the cold sea stream of Benguela and the
relief features are factors that determine and characterise two different
climatic regions, namely the Coastal climatic region and the inland
climatic region.
Humidity- an annual average of 30º C
Rain levels- an annual average of less than 600mm. The highest level of 800mm is recorded in and around the Cabinda sea-side area to the north, while the lowest levels of some 50mm can be recorded around the Namibe area to the south.
Temperature- average temperature of over 23º C
This climatic region is divided in three areas, namely northern, high and south-west.
Northern-with high rain and temperature levels.
High-formed by the central tableland region and characterized by annual average temperatures of closed to 19º C and a dry season of relatively low temperatures. South-west- a semi-desert area due to its closeness to the Kalahari desert with low temperatures during the dry season and high temperatures in the hot season. This region is influenced by high degrees of continental tropical air.
The vegetations varies with the climate, The thick rain forests are found in the north and in the Cabinda enclave, To the south the rain forest give way to savanah lands of mixed trees and grass, which in turn gradually turns into grasslands to the south and east. Palm trees are found on most of the coast and sparse desert vegetation grows south of Namibe.
Wildlife is as diverse as the vegetation and includes many of the larger African mammals, such as the elephant, rhinoceros, giraffe, hippoptamus, zebra, antelope, lion, and gorilla. Also found are crocodiles and diversity of birdlife and insects.
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