Here are some important facts related to Geography of Angola that you may need to know while traveling in the country. Angola or the Republic of Angola is situated on the South Atlantic Coast in western Africa. Luanda is its capital. Encircled by Namibia, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the eastern portion the country is divided into four major geographic regions. Territory of Angola spreads over an area of 1,246,700 square kilometers. The study on Geography of Angola reveals many more interesting facts about the country that you will gradually come to know.
Geographical Features of Angola
Topography of Angola clearly shows that the country has a rain forest in the north and in the Cabinda region and a dry coastal plain expands from Luanda to Namibia while a wet highland and an arid savanna covers the interior parts of Angolan territory. The Zambezi River and many of the tributaries of the Congo River have originated from Angola.
Coastal Lowland
If we look at the territory of Angola we will notice the diversity in the geographical regions. In some places the flat coastline is intercepted by low cliffs of red sandstone. The deep creeks that cut into the plain are called Great Fish Bay, Little Fish Bay and Lobito Bay. Further north one can find several shallow inlets of the sea. The coastal plain that extends to inland is somewhat barren. The Coastal lowland differs in width from about 25 kilometers near Benguela to over 150 kilometers in the Cuanza River Valley located south of Luanda. The chilly northward flowing Benguela Current of Atlantic Ocean is instrumental in creating a big difference between Angola’s interior highland and coastal plain by curbing rainfall along the coast. Thick bush cover portions of northern region of Coastal Lowland.
Hills and Mountains
The coastal lowland gradually rises and merges with the hills and mountains in the interior of Angolan terrain. The Cuanza River divides the region into two parts. The northern part ascends gradually from the coastal lowlands to an average height of 500 meters while mountainous terrains forming high escarpment cover the southern side of the Cuanza River is also part of the topography of Angola. The mountains stretching from a point in the eastern portion of Luanda runs in the southern portion through Namibia.
High Plateau
The high plateau lying to the east of the mountain range dominates Angolan landscape. Parts of the Benguela Plateau and the Humpata Highland region of the Huíla Plateau rise to the heights of 2500 meters. Whereas, the Malanje Plateau in the north hardly ever go above 1000 meters in altitude. The Benguela Plateau, the Bié Plateau, the Malanje Plateau, the coastal hinterland of Benguela and Lobito and a small portion of the Huíla Plateau near the town of Lubango are among the most densely inhabited areas in Angola.
Climate in Angola
Climate is another important part of Angola Geography. Angola experiences distinctive rainy and dry seasons like the rest of tropical Africa. A short rainy season from February to April is followed by summer lasting from May through October. Summers are scorching and dry while winters are mild and pleasant. The average annual temperature at Luanda stays around 23° C.
When it comes to studying Geography of Angola the names of important cities and ports of the country naturally come on the way. Apart from the capital Luanda some other important cities are Amboim, Caála, Bailundo, Calandula, Camacupa and of course Benguela, which is the largest port as well as the railhead in Angola.
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