Localization: Angola is located on the Southwest coast of Africa. It is bordered by the Democratic Republic of Congo to the North and Northeast, by Zambia to the East, and by Namibia to the South. It is also bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West.
Capital City: Luanda
Land Area: 1.246.700 square kilometers.
Administrative Division: 18 provinces, namely Bengo, Benguela, Bié, Cabinda, Cunene, Huambo, Huíla, Kuando Kubango, Kwanza Norte, Kwanza Sul, Luanda, Lunda Norte, Lunda Sul, Malanje, Moxico, Namibe, Uíje and Zaire.
Population: estimated 15. 941.000 (2005)
Main Resources: Petroleum, Diamond, copper, feldspar, gold,bauxite, uranium
Religion: Traditional beliefs (47%), Roman Catholic (38%), Protestant (15%),
Languages: Apart from the official language which is Portuguese, there are over 42 different dialects such as Kimbundu, Kikongo, Umbundu, Nyaneca, Nganguela, Tshokow, Mbunda, Luchage, Oxidinga, Ovihelelom, Kuvale, etc.
Climate: Tropical in the north and subtropical in the south. It rains from October to April and then mix of “Cacimbo” from May to September.
Landscape, Flora and Fauna
The climate in Angola supports green areas, which are the habitat of a great variety of animals. In Cabinda, there is a dense and humid forest that produces great amounts of exotic wood. This forest is the home of many gorillas. To south of Zaire and on the Basins of Kwanza, Kuando, Kuito, and Cassai River, there is also a forest and a savanna. There is an open forest along the plane zone which has unique characterized vegetation and fauna.
Further south, there is the desert of Namibe, the only place, worldwide, where Welwitshia Mirabilis, an exceptional flora species, is found. To preserve the flora and fauna species in extinction, reserve parks have been created around the Angolan territory.
In addition, hunting is prohibited and there are speciel reserves to protect and control wild animals. Among various animals species, is the Palanca Negra (Black Antelope), only existing in Angola. There are also elephants, wisents, bush pigs, lions, jackals, alongos, elands, gnus, zebras, and many more. Along the litoral, there are parks of sea turtle.
