GEOGRAPHY
Angola is bordered by the Democratic Republic of Congo to the
north, Zambia to the east, Namibia to the south and the Atlantic Ocean to the
west. Mountains rise from the coast, levelling to a plateau which makes up
most of the country. The country is increasingly arid towards the south; the
far south is on the edge of the Namib Desert. The northern plateau is thickly
vegetated. Cabinda is a small enclave to the north of Angola proper, surrounded
by the territories of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Congo. The discovery
of large oil deposits off the coast of the enclave has led to it becoming the
centre of Angola's foreign business interests. The oil industry is based primarily
at Malongo.
Official Name: Republic of Angola (Republica de Angola)
Capital: Luanda
Area: 1,246,700 sq. km. (481,400 sq. mi), about twice
the size of Texas.
Cities: Capital--Luanda (pop. 3.8 million); Huambo (750,000);
Benguela (600,000).
Terrain: A narrow, dry coastal strip extending from
Luanda to Namibia; well-watered agricultural highlands; savanna
in the far east and south; and rain forest in the north and
Cabinda.
Climate: Tropical and tropical highland.
