World-Geography24

Angola is located on the South Atlantic Coast of West 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 is divided into an arid coastal strip stretching from Namibia to Luanda; a wet, interior highland; a dry savanna in the interior south and southeast; and rain forest in the north and in Cabinda. The Zambezi River and several tributaries of the Congo River have their sources in Angola. The coastal strip is tempered by the cool Benguela current, resulting in a climate similar to coastal Peru or Baja California. There is a short rainy season lasting from February to April. Summers are hot and dry, while winters are mild. The interior highlands have a mild climate with a rainy season from November through April followed by a cool dry season from May to October. Elevations generally range from 3,000 to 6,000 feet (900 to 1,800 m). The far north and Cabinda enjoy rain throughout much of the year.

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. The coast plain extends inland for a distance varying from 30 to 100 miles (48 to 165 km). This region is in general sparsely watered and somewhat sterile. The approach to the great central plateau of Africa is marked by a series of irregular terraces. This intermediate mountain belt is covered with luxuriant vegetation. Water is fairly abundant, though in the dry season obtainable only by digging in the sandy beds of the rivers. The plateau has an altitude ranging from 4000 to 6000 ft (1,200 to 1,800 m). It consists of well-watered, wide, rolling plains, and low hills with scanty vegetation. In the east the tableland falls away to the basins of the Congo and Zambezi, to the south it merges into a barren sandy desert. A large number of rivers make their way westward to the sea; they rise, mostly, in the mountain belt, and are unimportant, the only two of any size being the Kwanza and the Kunene, separately noticed. The mountain chains which form the edge of the plateau, or diversify its surface, run generally parallel to the coast, as Tala Mugongo (4400 ft., 1350 m), Chella and Vissecua (5250 ft. to 6500 ft. or 1500 to 2000 m). In the district of Benguela are the highest points of the province, viz. Loviti (7780 ft., 2370 m), in 12° 5′ S., and Mt. Elonga (7550 ft., 2300 m). South of the Kwanza is the volcanic mountain Caculo-Cabaza (3300 ft., 1000 m). From the tableland the Kwango and many other streams flow north to join the Kasai River (one of the largest affluents of the Congo), which in its upper course forms for fully 300 mi (490 km). the boundary between Angola and the Congo State. In the south-east part of the province the rivers belong either to the Zambezi system, or, like the Okavango, drain to Lake Ngami.

Location
Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Democratic Republic of the Congo

Geographic coordinates: 12°30′S 18°30′E

Map references: Africa

Area
total: 1,246,700 km² (481,321 mi²)
land: 1,246,700 km² (481,321 mi²)
water: 0 km² (0 mi²)

Area comparative
Australia comparative: smaller than the Northern Territory
Canada comparative: slightly smaller than the Northwest Territories
United Kingdom comparative: 5 times bigger than the UK
United States comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Capital
Luanda (São Paulo de Loanda) - port - railhead

Major Cities
Amboim (Porto Amboim)
Bailundo (Vila Teixeira da Silva)
Benguela (São Felipe de Benguella) - port - railhead
Caála (Vila Robert Williams)
Calandula (Duque de Bragança)
Camacupa (Vila General Machado)
Chibia (Vila João de Almeida)
Ganda (Vila Mariano Machado)
Huambo (Nova Lisboa) - rail
Kuito (Silva Porto)
Kuvango (Vila da Ponte)
Lubango (Sá da Bandeira)
Luena (Vila Luso)
Massango (Forte República)
Mbanza Congo (São Salvador do Congo)
Menongue (Serpa Pinto) - railhead
Namibe (Moçâmedes) - port - railhead
N’Dalatando (Vila Salazar) - rail
N’Giva (Vila Pereira d’Eça)
Saurimo (Vila Henrique de Carvalho)
Soyo (Santo António do Zaire)
Sumbe (Novo Redondo)
Tombua (Porto Alexandre)
Uíje (Carmona)
Other Towns in Angola