Angola's Location: Southern Hemisphere Exploration

Angola, officially the Republic of Angola, is a country located in the southern region of Central Africa. It is bordered by Namibia to the south, Zambia to the east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north-east, the Republic of the Congo to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. With a latitude in the south, Angola is located below the equator, in the southern hemisphere.

Angola is the seventh-largest country in Africa and the second-largest Lusophone (Portuguese-speaking) country in both total area and population. It is divided into 18 provinces and has a population of roughly 31 million people. The capital and most populous city is Luanda, located on the Atlantic coast.

Angola's location in the Southern Hemisphere

Angola, officially the Republic of Angola, is a country located in the Southern Hemisphere. It is situated on the west-central coast of Southern Africa, with a landscape that varies from a semidesert Atlantic littoral to a rainforest interior and rugged highlands in the south. Angola is bordered by Namibia to the south, Zambia to the east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north-east, the Republic of the Congo to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Its westernmost point is on the island of Baia dos Tigres, while its easternmost point is in the province of Moxico. The northernmost point is in Caio Bemba, and its southernmost point is in the Cuando Cubango Province, near the Namibian town of Dirico.

Angola is the seventh-largest country in Africa, with an area of 1,246,700 square kilometres. The country is divided into 18 provinces, including the northern exclave of Cabinda, which is separated from the rest of Angola by a strip of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Angola has a coastline of 1,650 kilometres, with its main ports in Luanda, Lobito, and Namibe. The Port of Lobito is connected to the Benguela Railway, which links Angola to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia.

Angola's latitude and longitude coordinates are 11.2027° S and 17.8739° E, respectively, confirming its location in the Southern Hemisphere.

The climate of Angola

Angola is located in the southern hemisphere and experiences a tropical climate. The country is warm to hot all year round, with an average annual temperature of 27.6°C and over 1750 hours of sunshine. The climate is pleasant at times, but also humid. The rainy season lasts from October to May and is hot and humid, with average temperatures ranging from 22-23°C. The dry season, known as "Cacimbo", occurs from June to September and is the coolest time of the year, with average temperatures between 18-20°C.

The climate varies across the country, with the north experiencing a longer rainy season that can last up to seven months. The south has a shorter rainy season, typically beginning in November and lasting until February. The coldest months are July and August, during the dry season, when frost may form at higher altitudes.

The Inter-tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) controls rainfall in Angola, bringing rainfall as it migrates southward from the equator in October. Total rainfall decreases from north to south and from east to west, with northeastern Angola receiving the most rainfall. The country's climate is influenced by its location along the Atlantic Ocean, with sea surface temperatures and variations in the Benguela Cold Current playing a role.

Angola's capital, Luanda, has experienced temperatures ranging from a high of 35.6°C in April 2016 to a low of 16.0°C in August 2013. The average annual temperature in Luanda is 25.7°C.

Overall, Angola's climate is characterised by warm to hot temperatures, high humidity, and distinct rainy and dry seasons.

Angola's natural resources

Angola is located in the Southern Hemisphere and is one of the world's richest countries in terms of natural resources. The country has vast mineral and petroleum reserves, with petroleum being one of its most vital natural resources. Angola is the second-largest producer of oil in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a daily production of about 1.55 million barrels. The country has about 9 billion barrels of proven oil reserves and is a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Another one of Angola's most vital natural resources is diamond. The country was once the fourth-largest diamond exporter in the world in terms of value, and diamonds continue to be a significant source of revenue for the country. Other mineral resources in Angola include iron ore, manganese, gold, phosphates, uranium, feldspar, and platinum.

In addition to its mineral and petroleum resources, Angola also has a significant amount of arable land, with approximately 4% of the nation's total area being suitable for agriculture. The country's soils are among the most fertile in Africa, and its climate is highly conducive to agricultural activities. Angola was once nearly agriculturally self-sufficient, and some of the main crops grown in the country include coffee, bananas, and cassava.

Forests also cover a significant portion of Angola's land area, with trees such as cypress, pines, and eucalyptus being exported. Additionally, the country has a rich fishing industry, with foreign nations such as Italy, Japan, and Spain being allowed to fish within its territorial waters.

Angola's diverse natural resources have contributed significantly to its economic growth, making it one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. However, the country continues to face challenges such as income inequality, corruption, and the need to attract more foreign investment in various sectors.

Angola's history

Angola, officially the Republic of Angola, is a country located in the Southern Hemisphere in the southern region of Central Africa. It is the second-largest Lusophone (Portuguese-speaking) country in both total area and population and is the seventh-largest country in Africa.

Early History

Angola has been inhabited since the Paleolithic Age. Its formation as a nation-state originates from the Kingdom of Kongo, the hegemonic state of a number of other Kikongo-speaking kingdoms that flourished in and after the 14th century. The Kingdom of Kongo became extremely wealthy and powerful through establishing the Atlantic slave trade with the Portuguese Empire. Its first explorers established relations with Kongo in 1483, and additional migrants gradually began building coastal settlements and trading posts.

Portuguese Colonisation

The Portuguese first landed in what is today northern Angola in 1482, encountering the Kingdom of the Congo stretching from modern-day Gabon in the north to the Kwanza River in the south. The Portuguese gradually took control of the coastal area by a series of treaties and wars throughout the 16th century, and their interest in Angola quickly turned to the slave trade. Many scholars agree that by the 19th century, Angola was the largest source of slaves for the Americas.

Independence and Civil War

After a protracted anti-colonial struggle (1961-1974), Angola achieved independence in 1975 as a one-party Republic. But competing movements still struggled for power in the new nation. The country descended into a devastating civil war the same year, between the ruling People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), backed by the Soviet Union and Cuba; the insurgent National Union for the Total Independence of Angola, an originally Maoist and later anti-communist group supported by the United States and South Africa; and the militant organization National Liberation Front of Angola, backed by Zaire.

The MPLA stayed in power and Angola has been a relatively stable constitutional republic since the end of the civil war in 2002.

Angola's culture

Angola is a country located in the Southern Hemisphere, in the southern region of Central Africa. It is officially called the Republic of Angola and its culture reflects the influence of centuries of Portuguese colonial rule, including the predominance of the Portuguese language and the Catholic Church, intermingled with a variety of indigenous customs and traditions. Angola has over 100 distinct ethnic groups and languages/dialects, with the three dominant ethnic groups being the Ovimbundu, Mbundu (or Ambundu), and the Bakongo.

The Influence of Colonialism

The Portuguese settled in Luanda in 1575 and established the core of colonial Angola in the area approximately 90 miles (150 km) inland from the city. By the mid-17th century, a mixture of Mbundu and Portuguese culture had emerged in the region, and in 18th-century Luanda, Kimbundu (the language of the Mbundu) predominated as the language of the elite. In the 19th century, the Luanda elite embraced both Kimbundu and Portuguese culture and language, valuing their blended nature. However, a class of mixed-origin Angolans that was strongly Portuguese in language and cultural expression also developed during this time.

Traditional Culture

Despite colonial influences, a common traditional culture is still noticeable in Angola. The diverse ethnic communities maintain their own cultural traits, traditions, and native languages or dialects. The wooden sculptures of the Chokwe people, the carved ivories of Cabinda, and the elaborate hairstyles of the Nyaneka and Nkhumbi peoples are famous examples of traditional Angolan art.

Festivals and Food

The feast of Nganja, usually celebrated in April, is a harvest festival during which children roast corn. Palm oil is an indispensable part of many Angolan dishes, and seafood is also a favourite, given the country's location on the Atlantic coast.

Music and Dance

Music and dancing play a central role in Angolan culture, with the drum as the basic instrument. Traditional Angolan instruments include the ngoma, a bongo drum, and the mpwita, a drum originally found in Kongo. Other instruments include the mpungu, a trumpet, and the Luandan hungu, a type of gourd-resonated musical bow.

Sports and Recreation

Football (soccer) is a national passion in Angola, played by people of every social stratum. Basketball is also growing in popularity, especially due to the influence of foreign armed forces in the country.

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