Angola's Geographical Extent And Its Impact

Angola is a large country located on the west coast of central Africa, with a land area of 1,246,700 square kilometres (481,353 square miles). It is the seventh-largest country in Africa and the 22nd or 23rd largest in the world. Angola has a population of over 33 million people, with more than half of its residents living in cities. The country has a long coastline of 1,600 kilometres (994.2 miles) and a central plateau, with its principal cities, including the capital Luanda, located on the west coast. Angola is bordered by Namibia, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Republic of the Congo.

Angola is the 22nd largest country in the world

Angola is located on the west coast of central Africa, about 700 kilometres south of the equator. It is bordered by Namibia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, and the Republic of the Congo. The country has a long coastline along the South Atlantic Ocean, with four natural harbours: Luanda, Lobito, Moçâmedes, and Porto Alexandre. Angola's capital, Luanda, is located on the Atlantic coast in the northwest of the country.

Angola's landscape includes a semidesert Atlantic littoral bordering Namibia's "Skeleton Coast", a sparsely populated rainforest interior, rugged highlands in the south, and the Cabinda exclave in the north. The country is comparatively high, with an average elevation of 1,112 metres above sea level. The highest mountain peak, Morro de Môco, reaches 2,619 metres. Angola also has about 40 islands.

Angola's climate is tropical, with distinct rainy and dry seasons. The rainy season in the north lasts from September to April, while in the south, it begins later in November and lasts until February. The dry season, known as "cacimbo", is characterised by heavy morning mist. Temperatures vary with distance from the equator, altitude, and proximity to the coast, with average annual temperatures ranging from 16°C to 26°C.

Angola is a vast country with a diverse geography and climate. Its size and natural resources, particularly petroleum and diamonds, have played a significant role in shaping its economy and development.

It is the 7th largest country in Africa

Angola is the seventh-largest country in Africa, with a land area of 1,246,700 square kilometres (481,400 square miles). It is the 22nd largest country in the world, slightly smaller than the Northern Territory in Australia, and twice the size of France or the US state of Texas.

Angola's size and location make it a significant country in Africa. It has a long coastline along the South Atlantic Ocean, which gives it a strategic position in Southern Africa. Angola borders Namibia to the south, Zambia to the east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north-east, and the Republic of the Congo to the north-west.

The country consists of a sparsely watered and somewhat sterile coastal plain that extends inland for 31 to 99 miles (50 to 160 kilometres). Slightly inland and parallel to the coast is a belt of hills and mountains, and behind those, a large plateau. The coastal plain varies in width from about 125 miles (200 kilometres) in the area south of Luanda to about 15 miles (25 kilometres) near Benguela. The Bié Plateau, to the east of Benguela, forms a rough quadrilateral of land above the 5,000-foot (1,500-metre) mark, covering about one-tenth of Angola's surface.

Angola's capital and largest city is Luanda, which is located on the northern coast. It is one of the busiest seaports in Angola and is considered the capital of the Mbundu peoples, who are indigenous to the area. Luanda has a population of 8.86 million people and is known for its mix of Portuguese-style colonial landmarks, traditional African housing styles, and modern industrial complexes.

Angola is roughly square-shaped

The total land area of Angola is 1,246,700 km² (481,353 mi²), making it the 22nd or 23rd biggest country in the world. 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 coastal plain consists of alluvia, chalk, and sand, underlain by oil-bearing formations over the northern two-thirds. The average elevation of the land is 1,112 meters above sea level, with the highest mountain peak, Morro de Môco, reaching 2,619 meters.

Angola has a tropical climate with distinct rainy and dry seasons. The rainy season lasts from September to May in the north and from December to February in the south. The dry season, often characterised by heavy morning mist, sees less precipitation and lower temperatures. The average annual temperature in Soyo, at the mouth of the Congo River, is 26 °C (79 °F), while in Huambo, on the central plateau, it is 19 °C (67 °F).

Angola's landscape is diverse, ranging from the semidesert Atlantic littoral bordering Namibia’s “Skeleton Coast” to the rainforest interior and the rugged highlands of the south. The coastal plain rises abruptly to the east in a series of escarpments leading to the rugged highlands. The central plateau, which covers the eastern two-thirds of Angola, is largely buried under deep deposits of infertile windblown Kalahari sands. The river gravels of the northeast contain diamonds, and rare kimberlite pipes occur in this area.

The country has a population of over 33 million

Angola has a population of over 33 million people, with an estimated 37.2 million people living in the country as of 2023. The population is multicultural and multiethnic, with the Ambundu and Ovimbundu ethnic groups forming a majority of 62%. Portuguese is the official language of Angola, with 71.15% of the population using it as a first or second language. However, there are several indigenous languages spoken throughout the country, including Umbundu, Kimbundu, and Kikongo.

Angola's population is largely urban, with 68.1% of the population, or 25,811,665 people, living in urban areas as of 2024. The median age in the country is 16.5 years, and the total fertility rate is 5.54 children per woman. The country has a low standard of living, with high infant mortality rates and low life expectancy.

Angola's population is concentrated in the capital city of Luanda and the northern coast, as well as the north-central river valleys. The country has experienced significant population growth in recent years, with the population expected to continue increasing in the coming decades.

Angola's capital, Luanda, is one of its busiest seaports

Angola is a country on the west-central coast of Southern Africa. It is the seventh-largest country in Africa and the twenty-second largest in the world, with a total land size of 1,246,700 square kilometres (481,400 square miles). Angola has a population of around 37.2 million people and is bordered by Namibia, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the South Atlantic Ocean.

Angola's capital, Luanda, is also the country's primary port and major industrial, cultural, and urban centre. Luanda is located on Angola's northern Atlantic coast and is the administrative centre and chief seaport of the country. It is one of the busiest ports in Africa and handles 70% of Angola's foreign trade (excluding petroleum). The port is connected to the city centre of Luanda and the district of Ingombota. It is located in Luanda Bay, which is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by the island of Luanda.

The Port of Luanda has four terminals and is currently undergoing major expansion work, with a new port being developed at Dande, around 30 kilometres to the north. Luanda is also the starting point of the Luanda railway, which goes due east to Malanje. The port belongs to the Angolan government, which is responsible for its administration through the public company Porto de Luanda E.P.

Luanda is the largest city in Angola, with a population of over 8.3 million inhabitants (as of 2020)—around a third of Angola's total population. The city was founded in 1576 by Portuguese explorer Paulo Dias de Novais and served as a centre for the slave trade to Brazil. Today, industries in Luanda include agricultural product processing, beverage production, textiles, and construction materials. Luanda has also become one of the most expensive cities in the world for expatriates.

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