II.

Land and Resources

Angola is one of the largest countries in Africa, covering an area more than twice the size of France and the Low Countries combined. The country can be divided into three major geographical regions. From west to east, these are the coastal plain, a transitional zone, and a vast inland plateau. The low-lying coastal plain varies from about 50 to 150 km (30 to 90 mi) in width. The transitional zone, which consists of a series of terraces or escarpments, is about 150 km (90 mi) wide in the north, but diminishes to about 30 km (19 mi) in the centre and south. To the east of this zone is the vast Angolan plateau, which covers about two thirds of the country and lies 1,000 to 1,520 m (3,300 to 5,000 ft) above sea level. Higher elevations are reached in the mountains of the central section, culminating in Mount Moco (2,620 m/8,597 ft), the country’s highest point.

A.

Rivers and Lakes

Most of the country’s rivers rise in the central mountains. Of the many rivers that drain to the Atlantic Ocean, the Cuanza and Cunene are the most important. Other major rivers include the Kwango (Cuango), which drains north to the River Congo system, and the Kwando (Cuando) and Cubango (Okavango), both of which drain generally south-east to the Okavango delta and swamp in Botswana. Angola has no sizeable lakes.

B.

Climate

Angola has a tropical climate, with a dry season that lasts from September to April. The country is prone to drought; in 1990 three million Angolans faced famine. The cool Benguela Current offshore moderates the temperatures of the coastal region and reduces rainfall, especially in the south. Annual rainfall is 338 mm (13 in) in Luanda, but only 51 mm (2 in) in Namibe, which borders the Namib Desert. On the cooler central plateau, rainfall decreases from 1,500 mm (60 in) in the north to 750 mm (30 in) in the south.

C.

Natural Resources

Angola is extremely rich in mineral resources, and further geological exploration is likely to add to the list of known mineral reserves. Among the most notable resources are oil, diamonds, iron ore, manganese, copper, uranium, phosphates, and salt.

D.

Plants and Animals

Vegetation varies with the climate. Thick tropical rainforest grows in the north and in the Cabinda exclave. To the south the rainforest gives way to savannah with mixed trees and grasses, which in turn gives way to grasslands to the south and east. Palm trees grow along much of the coast, while sparse desert vegetation is found south of Namibe. The wildlife is as diverse as the vegetation, and includes many of the larger African mammals, such as elephant, rhinoceros, giraffe, hippopotamus, zebra, antelope, lion, and gorilla. Angola also has crocodiles and a diversity of birds and insects.

E.

Environmental Concerns

Population pressure and inadequate infrastructure have led to many environmental difficulties in Angola. Potable water is scarce, especially in the rural areas. Because food production has not kept pace with the country's rapid population growth, much of the national food requirement is now imported. Poor agricultural practices have led to widespread soil erosion and desertification. Siltation of rivers and dams is a serious related problem. Deforestation, especially to supply the international tropical timber market, is rapidly eliminating the rainforests in the north and threatening biodiversity.

A protected area system of parks and nature reserves exists but lacks funding. Only about 6.6 per cent (1997) of the land is significantly protected, and logging, poaching, and agricultural encroachment are continuing threats. The civil war has caused tremendous damage and brought environmental programmes to a halt.

Angola's biodiversity is second only to that of its northern neighbour, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with over 1,200 endemic plant species and a wide range of biomes. Most of the country is covered with dry woodland, savannah, and grassland. The total forest cover is 17.8 per cent (1995). Angola's participation in international conservation efforts has been mainly limited to aid projects, although it has signed agreements concerning law of the sea, biodiversity, climate change, and desertification.