Angola Geography 1997

Location Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibiaand Democratic Republic of the Congo

Geographic coordinates 12 30 S, 18 30 E

Map references Africa

Area
total: 1,246,700 sq km
land : 1,246,700 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Land boundaries
total: 5,198 km
border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,511 km of which 220 km is the boundaryof discontiguous Cabinda province, Republic of the Congo 201 km, Namibia 1,376 km, Zambia 1,110 km

Coastline 1,600 km

Maritime claims
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 20 nm

Climate semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has cool, dry season(May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to April)

Terrain narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior plateau

Elevation extremes
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Morro de Moco 2,620 m

Natural resources petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite,uranium

Land use
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 23%
forests and woodland: 43%
other : 32% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land 750 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau

Environment - current issues the overuse of pastures and subsequent soil erosion attributable topopulation pressures; desertification; deforestation of tropical rain forest,in response to both international demand for tropical timber and to domesticuse as fuel, resulting in loss of biodiversity; soil erosion contributingto water pollution and siltation of rivers and dams; inadequate supplies ofpotable water

Environment - international agreements
party to: Law of the Sea
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification

Geography - note Cabinda is separated from rest of country by Congo (Kinshasa)

NOTE: The information regarding Angola on this page is re-published from the 1997 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Angola Geography 1997 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Angola Geography 1997 should be addressed to the CIA.