Luanda, Angola: Southern Hemisphere Gateway

Luanda is the capital of Angola, a country in the southern region of Central Africa. It is located on the west coast of the continent, on the Atlantic Ocean. Angola is in the southern hemisphere and the eastern hemisphere. Luanda is the country's largest city and one of its busiest seaports. It is also Angola's administrative centre and its chief industrial and cultural hub.

Luanda is the capital of Angola

Luanda was founded in January 1576 by Portuguese explorer Paulo Dias de Novais, who named it "São Paulo da Assunção de Loanda". It became the administrative centre of the Portuguese colony of Angola in 1627 and was a major hub for the slave trade to Brazil.

Luanda is Angola's economic, political, and cultural centre. It is a major industrial city, with industries such as the processing of agricultural products, beverage production, textiles, and construction. Luanda is also a notable economic centre for oil, with a refinery located in the city.

The city is divided into two parts: the Baixa de Luanda (lower Luanda, the old city) and the Cidade Alta (upper city or the new part). Luanda has a hot semi-desert climate and is known for its high cost of living, particularly for expatriates. It is undergoing major reconstruction, with new developments significantly altering its cityscape.

Angola is located in the southern hemisphere

Angola, officially the Republic of Angola, is a country in the southern hemisphere, located on the west-central coast of Southern Africa. It is bordered by Namibia to the south, Zambia to the east, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north-east, with its west coast on the Atlantic Ocean. Angola's capital and largest city is Luanda, which is located on the northern Atlantic coast of the country.

Luanda is Angola's administrative centre, its chief seaport, and the capital of the Luanda Province. It is the largest Portuguese-speaking capital city in the world, with a population of over 8.3 million inhabitants in 2020, accounting for a third of Angola's population.

Angola has a tropical climate with a marked dry season, and its landscape varies from a narrow coastal plain in the west to rugged highlands in the south and rainforest in the interior. The country is rich in natural resources, including precious gems, metals, and large petroleum reserves, which contribute to its fast-growing economy.

Angola is a relatively stable constitutional republic, with a diverse and multicultural population. The official language is Portuguese, although several Bantu languages are also spoken, including Kimbundu, Umbundu, and Kikongo. The majority of the population practices Catholicism, with a significant proportion following Protestant denominations.

Angola has a low standard of living, with most of the nation's wealth concentrated in a small part of the population. However, it has been making efforts to improve its infrastructure and social conditions, particularly after the end of the civil war in 2002.

Luanda is Angola's primary port

Luanda is the capital and largest city of Angola. It is located on Angola's northern Atlantic coast and is the country's administrative centre, as well as its chief seaport. Luanda is also the capital of the Luanda Province.

The Port of Luanda is the largest Angolan seaport and is the country's primary port for foreign trade. It is the main import and export terminal for long-haul cargo in Angola. 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 is the outlet point of the Luanda Railway, which carries cargo from the city of Malanje in the Malanje Province.

Luanda was founded in 1576 by Portuguese explorer Paulo Dias de Novais and was initially settled by the Portuguese. It became the administrative centre of the Portuguese colony of Angola in 1627 and was a major hub for the slave trade to Brazil.

Luanda is Angola's primary industrial, cultural and urban centre. It is the seat of a Roman Catholic archdiocese and is home to several educational institutions, including the Catholic University of Angola and the University of Agostinho Neto. The city also hosts the annual Luanda International Jazz Festival and is home to numerous museums, including the National Museum of Anthropology, the National Museum of Natural History, the Museum of the Armed Forces, and the National Museum of Slavery.

Angola is bordered by Namibia, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo

Angola is bordered by Namibia to the south, Zambia to the southeast, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north and northeast. The country is roughly square-shaped, with a maximum width of about 800 miles (1,300 km), including the Cabinda exclave, which is located along the Atlantic coast just north of Angola's border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Angola is 2,646 km (1,644 mi) long and consists of two non-contiguous sections. The western section runs along the border with Angola's Cabinda province, while the eastern and much longer section runs from the Atlantic to the tripoint with Zambia.

Angola's southern border with Namibia measures 1,376 km (855 mi) and is characterised by the Cunene River, which marks the boundary between the two countries as it flows westwards towards the Atlantic Ocean. Meanwhile, the border with Zambia to the southeast is much shorter, at 1,110 km (690 mi).

Historically, Portugal had established settlements along the coast of modern-day Angola in the 1480s, gradually expanding into the interior at the expense of native kingdoms, including the Kingdom of Kongo. The Berlin Conference of 1884 recognised Portugal's claim to Cabinda, which cut off the province from mainland Angola. The current borders of Angola were established in the early 20th century, following strong resistance from native groups.

Angola has a population of roughly 31 million people

Luanda, the capital of Angola, is located in the southern hemisphere. Angola has a population of roughly 31 million people, with 37.2 million being the closest estimate as of 2023. The population is composed of Ovimbundu (37%), Ambundu (23%), Bakongo (13%), and 32% other ethnic groups (including the Chokwe, the Ovambo, the Ganguela, and the Xindonga). There are also approximately 2% mulattos (mixed European and African), 1.6% Chinese, and 1% European. The Ambundu and Ovimbundu ethnic groups form a majority of the population, at 62%.

Angola has a low standard of living, with life expectancy being among the lowest in the world and infant mortality being among the highest. The country has a high fertility rate of 5.54 children per woman, and the median age is 16.5 years. Portuguese is the official language, but several Bantu languages are also spoken, including Umbundu, Kimbundu, and Kikongo.

Angola is a multicultural and multiethnic country with a strong influence from the Portuguese, evident in the predominance of the Portuguese language and the Catholic Church. The country has vast mineral and petroleum reserves and is the second-largest Lusophone (Portuguese-speaking) country in both total area and population. It is the seventh-largest country in Africa and has borders with Namibia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, and the Atlantic Ocean.

Angola's economy is among the fastest-growing in the world, but economic growth is uneven, with wealth concentrated in a small part of the population. The country has a serious humanitarian crisis due to the prolonged civil war, the abundance of minefields, and political agitation in the exclave of Cabinda. Despite the challenges, Angola has made significant progress since gaining independence in 1975, and efforts are being made to reduce poverty and promote economic growth.

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