Angola's Desert-Like Landscape: A Semi-Arid Climate

Angola is located on the western coast of Southern Africa and has a varied landscape, from the arid coastal lowlands in the west to the large inland plateau in the east. The Moçâmedes Desert, also known as the Namib Desert, is a desert located in southwestern Angola, near the border with Namibia. It is considered the northern extension of the Namib Desert and stretches for about 275 miles along the Atlantic coast. The desert is characterised by gravel plains, rock platforms, and sand dunes, with a semi-arid plain in the east dominated by acacia and mopane trees. The cool offshore Benguela Current contributes to the frequent fog and relatively cool temperatures in the area.

The Moçâmedes Desert

Angola is located on the western Atlantic coast of Southern Africa and is bordered by Namibia, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Zambia. The country consists of a sparsely watered and somewhat sterile coastal plain that extends inland for a varying distance of 50 to 160 km (31 to 99 mi). The total land size of Angola is 1,246,700 km2 (481,400 sq mi).

The city of Namibe (formerly Moçâmedes) is located in the centre of the desert. With a population of 255,000 as of the 2014 census, it is the capital of Namibe Province. The city experiences a hot desert climate with relatively low precipitation, receiving less than 2 inches (50 mm) of rainfall annually. The desert is almost entirely uninhabited, except for small coastal fishing towns and the iron-ore exporting centre of Namibe.

The unique Welwitschia mirabilis plant, commonly known as tumboa, is endemic to the Moçâmedes Desert. This desert plant has a short, wide trunk and two gigantic leaves that can survive for a century. The Moçâmedes Desert is also known for its gravel plains and rock platforms, with sand dunes reaching up to 300 meters (980 feet) in height.

The Namib Desert

Geography and Geology

The desert's geology consists of sand seas near the coast, with gravel plains and scattered mountain outcrops further inland. The sand dunes are the second-largest in the world, reaching heights of up to 300 metres (980 ft) and spanning 32 kilometres (20 mi) in length. The complexity and regularity of the dune patterns have long fascinated geologists.

Climate and Weather

The Namib experiences a dry and arid climate, with annual precipitation ranging from 2 millimetres (0.079 in) in the driest regions to 200 millimetres (7.9 in) at the escarpment. The desert's aridity is caused by the descent of dry air from the Hadley cell, which is cooled by the cold Benguela Current along the coast. The interaction between the water-laden air from the sea and the dry desert air results in frequent fog and strong currents along the coast.

Temperatures in the Namib vary between the coast and inland areas. Along the coast, temperatures are generally stable, ranging between 9–20 °C (48–68 °F) annually. In contrast, inland temperatures are more variable, with summer daytime temperatures exceeding 45 °C (113 °F) and freezing nights.

Flora and Fauna

The Namib fauna consists mostly of arthropods and other small animals adapted to the arid conditions. However, larger animals, such as lions, elephants, and rhinos, can be found in the northern regions and near the Skeleton Coast. The desert is also home to mountain zebras and other large mammals in the Namib-Naukluft National Park.

Human Presence and Conservation

While large parts of the Namib Desert region are protected, it still faces threats from unsustainable land practices, mining, and illegal plant harvesting. The WWF-supported conservancy movement in Namibia aims to address these challenges by giving local communities responsibility and rights over their natural resources and wildlife.

The Benguela Current

The coastal areas adjacent to the Benguela Current experience arid conditions due to the cool temperatures and low moisture content of the air. This aridity is particularly notable in Angola, where the current contributes to the formation of the arid coastal lowland that stretches from Namibia to Luanda.

Angola's climate

Angola is located on the western coast of Southern Africa, between Namibia and the Republic of the Congo. The country experiences a tropical climate, with high humidity and hot temperatures. The average annual temperature is around 27.6 °C, and it is warm to hot all year round. The water temperatures are also pleasant for bathing, averaging 24 °C.

The coastal region of Angola is relatively arid, particularly south of Benguela, where it forms the northern extension of the Namib Desert. The Moçâmedes Desert, located in the southwest of Angola, near the border with Namibia, is part of the Namib Desert. The desert extends inland from the Atlantic coast, gradually rising to a semi-arid plain where African ironwood trees grow. The coast experiences low precipitation due to the cold, northward-flowing Benguela Current, and this region is characterised by low plains and terraces.

Inland from the coast is a belt of hills and mountains, with the approach to the great central plateau of Africa marked by a series of irregular escarpments and cuestas. The highest point in Angola is Morro de Môco, at 2,620 metres. The central plateau consists of ancient crystalline rocks with granites overlain by non-fossiliferous sandstones and conglomerates of Paleozoic age. The northern part of the country has a longer rainy season, lasting up to seven months, while in the south, the rainy season begins in November and lasts until February.

Angola's biodiversity

Angola is one of the most biologically diverse countries in Africa, but its biodiversity is poorly researched and documented. The country has four principal natural regions: the arid coastal lowland, stretching from Namibia to Luanda; 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); and rainforests in the north and in Cabinda.

The coastal lowland is characterised by low plains and terraces. The coastal region is rich in oil palms and mangroves, with dense forests in the north and dense thorn scrub in the south. The northern coastal plain is covered by thick brush. The coastal desert, known as the Moçâmedes Desert, extends north along the Atlantic coast of Angola from the Angola-Namibia border for about 275 miles (450 km) and constitutes the northernmost extension of the Namib Desert. The Benguela Current substantially reduces precipitation along the coast, making the region relatively arid. The desert is almost completely uninhabited, except for several small settlements and indigenous pastoral groups. The desert is an important location for mining tungsten, salt, and diamonds.

Inland and parallel to the coast is a belt of hills and mountains, known as the median zone. 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. The highest point in Angola is Morro de Môco, at 2,620 m. 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 Zambezi River and several tributaries of the Congo River have their sources in Angola. A large number of rivers originate in the central uplands, but their patterns of flow are diverse and their ultimate outlets varied. Some flow in a westerly course to the Atlantic Ocean, providing water for irrigation in the dry coastal strip and the potential for hydroelectric power. 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.

Angola's wildlife includes lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, rhinoceroses, hippopotamuses, buffalo, zebras, kudus, wild pigs, ostriches, and crocodiles. The country is also home to many species of birds, butterflies, dragonflies, and damselflies. The avifauna of Angola is known for its richness, endemism, and rarity.

Frequently asked questions