Angola Geography

What is the terrain and geography like in Angola?

Overview

Angola is located on the southwestern coast of Africa (South Atlantic Ocean). The coastline extends a distance of nearly 1,000 miles from Angola’s oil-rich enclave of Cabinda north of the mouth of the Zaire River and is separated from the rest of the country by the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the border of Namibia. The country stretches inland for some 950 miles, a third of the way across Africa. The terrain features a narrow coastal plain, which rises abruptly to a vast inland plateau. Angola’s interior elevations range from 3,000–7,000 feet, with the upland region forming one of Africa’s largest watersheds.

Geography - note

The province of Cabinda is an exclave, separated from the rest of the country by the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Climate

The climate is semiarid in the south and along the coast of Luanda. The north has a cool dry season (May to October) and a hot rainy season (November to April). Natural hazards are locally heavy rainfall, which causes periodic flooding.

In Luanda during the January to April hot season, the temperature is often in the upper 90s; the sun is quite intense, and the humidity is very high. During the winter months, June through September, the days are pleasant, with high temperatures around 80°F, with mild evenings. Skies are often hazy, a condition called "cacimbo." Generally, there are light rains during November and December, with heavy rains falling in March and April.

Angola Use of Natural Resources

Angola Environment

Climate:

The climate is semiarid in the south and along the coast of Luanda. The north has a cool dry season (May to October) and a hot rainy season (November to April). Natural hazards are locally heavy rainfall, which causes periodic flooding.

In Luanda during the January to April hot season, the temperature is often in the upper 90s; the sun is quite intense, and the humidity is very high. During the winter months, June through September, the days are pleasant, with high temperatures around 80°F, with mild evenings. Skies are often hazy, a condition called "cacimbo." Generally, there are light rains during November and December, with heavy rains falling in March and April.

Terrain:

A narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to a vast interior plateau

Natural Resources:

Petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium

Natural Hazards:

Locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau

Irrigated Land:

330 Square Miles
855 Square Kilometers

Environmental Issues:

Overuse of pastures and subsequent soil erosion attributable to population pressures; desertification; deforestation of the tropical rain forests, in response to both international demand for tropical timber and to domestic use as fuel, resulting in loss of biodiversity; soil erosion contributing to water pollution and siltation of rivers and dams; inadequate supplies of potable water

Environment - International Agreements:

Party To: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Angola Geography

Geographic Location Africa
Total Area 481,351 Square Miles
1,246,700 Square Kilometers
Land Area 481,351 Square Miles
1,246,700 Square Kilometers
Land Boundaries 3,230 Miles
5,198 Kilometers
Irrigated Land 330 Square Miles
855 Square Kilometers
Border Countries The Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,511 km (of which 225 km is the boundary of discontiguous Cabinda Province), Republic of the Congo 201 km, Namibia 1,376 km, Zambia 1,110 km
Coastline 994 Miles
1,600 Kilometers
Geographic Coordinates 12 30 S, 18 30 E
Terrain A narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to a vast interior plateau
Highest Point 2,620 Meters
Highest Point Location Morro de Moco 2,620 m
Lowest Point Location Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Natural Resources Petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium
Time Zone UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Daylight saving time does not observe daylight savings time
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