Angola's Location: Exploring The African Country On A Map

Angola is a country located in southwestern Africa. It is bordered by Namibia in the south, Zambia to the east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north and east, the Republic of the Congo to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The capital city of Angola is Luanda, which is known for being one of the most expensive cities in the world. The country has a total area of 1,246,700 square kilometres and a population of approximately 34 million people. Angola is slightly larger than South Africa and is home to a diverse landscape, including semidesert, rainforest, rugged highlands, and a coastal plain.

Angola's location on the western coast of Southern Africa

Angola, officially the Republic of Angola, is a country on the west-central coast of Southern Africa. It is the seventh-largest country in Africa, with a land border stretching 3,336 miles in total. Angola is bordered by Namibia to the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Zambia to the east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The country has a diverse landscape, from the semidesert Atlantic littoral bordering Namibia's "Skeleton Coast" to the densely populated towns and cities of the northern coast.

Angola's border with Zambia to the east was first established in the 19th century by European colonial powers and spans 689 miles in length. Similarly, its southern border with Namibia, which follows the natural course of the Kavango and Cunene Rivers, was also determined by European colonial powers through various treaties. This border spans 886 miles and has several border crossings, including the Katitwe, Omahenene, Rundu, Ruacana, and Oshikango.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is the largest of Angola's bordering nations and is situated north of the country. The border between the two countries is the longest of Angola's borders at 1,644 miles in length. This international border was first demarcated in the 19th century during the Scramble for Africa, with the DRC recognised as a Belgian colony and Angola as a Portuguese colony. Despite illegal crossings and smuggling activities, the two nations recognise the demarcation of the border, and there have been no territorial conflicts.

In addition to its land borders, Angola also has an exclave province called Cabinda, which borders the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Cabinda has a rich history, having been formed as a result of the Treaty of Simulanbuco signed by Portugal in 1885. It is known for its oil production, contributing more than half of Angola's output, and its unique cultural identity, with a secessionist movement advocating for self-rule.

The country's neighbours: Namibia, Zambia, the Congo, and the Democratic Republic of Congo

Angola is bordered by Namibia to the south, Zambia to the east, the Democratic Republic of Congo to the north and east, and the Republic of the Congo. The country also has a coastline along the Atlantic Ocean to the west.

Angola's cultural and linguistic heritage differs from its neighbours. While Angola was a Portuguese colony, neither English nor French are widely spoken there today. Portuguese is still the dominant language in Angola, and Luanda, the capital, is culturally closer to Maputo and Bahia in northern Brazil than its neighbouring countries. Lisbon-style architecture, custard tarts, strong coffee, and the dance, kizomba, are all prevalent in Angola.

Angola's northern provinces share the lush Congo rainforest with the Democratic Republic of Congo, while the Namibe province in the south borders the Namib desert, with its ancient canyons and prehistoric cave paintings.

The country's border with the Democratic Republic of Congo has been a site of tension, with Angola deporting tens of thousands of Congolese migrants each year since 2004. The influx of migrants has been driven by the disparity in wealth between the two countries, with Angola's GDP per person 24 times larger than that of the Democratic Republic of Congo. This has also led to revenue loss for Angola through illegal mining.

Angola's exclave province of Cabinda

Cabinda is a tiny province, with just 400,000 residents, but it is responsible for around 60% of Angola's oil production. The region's oil has been crucial to the country's economy, with the industry accounting for 95% of exports in Africa's second-largest oil-producing country. Despite this, the people of Cabinda claim they have not benefited from the revenues generated by their province's oil. They argue that the region suffers from high unemployment, poor infrastructure, and a lack of investment from the Angolan government.

The movement for Cabinda's independence has been led by the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (FLEC), a separatist insurgency that has been fighting the Angolan government since 1975. FLEC has carried out guerrilla attacks on Angolan military forces and economic targets, as well as kidnappings of foreign oil workers. In 2006, a ceasefire was announced, but the conflict flared up again in 2010 when a FLEC splinter group attacked a bus carrying the Togo national football team, killing three people.

The Republic of Cabinda has a government-in-exile based in Paris and the Republic of the Congo, but it is not recognised by any other nation. Angola has been reluctant to let Cabinda go due to its significant contribution to the country's economy. However, the ongoing conflict and Cabinda's continued pursuit of independence have created tensions and instability in the region.

The capital city of Luanda

Luanda is the capital and largest city of Angola, as well as its primary port and major industrial, cultural, and urban centre. It is located on Angola's northern Atlantic coast and is the administrative centre of the country and Luanda Province. It is the most populous Portuguese-speaking capital city in the world and the most populous Lusophone city outside of Brazil.

Luanda was founded in 1575 or 1576 by Portuguese explorer Paulo Dias de Novais, who brought with him one hundred families of settlers and four hundred soldiers. The city served as the centre of the slave trade to Brazil until the institution was prohibited.

Luanda's population increased dramatically during the Angolan Civil War (1975-2002) as refugees fled from the war. This led to the exacerbation of slums, or musseques, around Luanda. Since the end of the civil war, the city has been undergoing major reconstruction, with new large developments significantly altering its cityscape.

Luanda is divided into two parts: the Baixa de Luanda (lower Luanda, the old city) and the Cidade Alta (upper city or the new part). The Baixa de Luanda is situated next to the port and has narrow streets and old colonial buildings. The Cidade Alta consists of the outlying districts and is generally poverty-ridden, while the lower part is commercial and industrial.

Luanda is the seat of a Roman Catholic archbishop and is home to numerous educational institutions, including the Catholic University of Angola and the public University of Agostinho Neto. It is also home to the colonial Governor's Palace and the Estádio da Cidadela, Angola's main stadium, with a seating capacity of 60,000.

Luanda has a hot semi-desert climate, with a surprisingly low humidity despite its tropical latitude due to the cool Benguela Current. The climate is largely influenced by the offshore Benguela Current, which prevents moisture from easily condensing into rain.

Luanda is one of the world's most expensive cities for expatriates, with extremely high costs of goods and security. Skyscrapers are left barren as the price of oil drops, fuelling rampant inequality in the city.

Angola's natural resources: diamonds, oil, iron, gold, copper, and bauxite

Angola is a country located in Africa and is one of the richest countries in natural resources. The country has significant reserves of diamonds, oil, iron, gold, copper, and bauxite, among other valuable resources. Here is an overview of Angola's natural resources:

Diamonds

Angola has vast diamond reserves and is the third-largest producer of diamonds in Africa. The diamond industry in Angola is focused on the Lunda Norte and Sul provinces, with alluvial diamonds widely distributed across the northeastern region. Diamond mining in Angola has a long history, dating back to the 18th century, but modern industrial mining began in 1912 with the discovery of gems in the Lunda region. Angola has only explored 40% of its diamond-rich territory, and the government is working to attract foreign investment in this sector.

Oil

Angola is one of the largest exporters of petroleum in sub-Saharan Africa, with considerable reserves of crude oil and natural gas located offshore, particularly near the Cabinda exclave and the Congo River estuary. The country has favorable geologic conditions and a high success rate in exploration, contributing to its position as a significant oil producer.

Iron

Angola possesses large reserves of iron ore, mainly located in the southwestern part of the country. Historically, Angola was a major producer and exporter of iron ore, but production has declined due to security and transportation challenges. Efforts are being made to resume mining operations in this sector.

Gold

Gold is another valuable natural resource in Angola, with several active gold mining projects. The Buco-Zau mine in the northern province of Cabinda is a notable site, with recent gold exports signaling the country's push toward economic diversification.

Copper

Copper is also found in Angola, and it was once a significant producer of this metal. However, the civil war that lasted nearly 30 years disrupted copper mining, and efforts are now being made to resume exploration and production.

Bauxite

While bauxite is not extensively mentioned in the context of Angola's natural resources, it is included in the broader list of minerals known to exist in commercial quantities in the country.

Angola's natural resources have contributed significantly to its economy, and the country is working to attract foreign investment and develop its mining sector further. The diversification of its resource industries is a key strategy for Angola's economic growth and development.

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