Lobito

Lobito is a municipality in Angola. Located in the Benguela Province, on the Atlantic Coast north of Catumbela Estuary. Lobito municipality had a population of 393,079 in 2014.[1]

For the commune in Canata, see Lobito, Canata.
Lobito
Municipality
Flag
Seal
Lobito
Location in Angola
Coordinates: 12°22′S 13°32′E
Country Angola
ProvinceBenguela Province
Area
 • Municipality989 sq mi (2,562 km2)
Elevation
456 ft (139 m)
Population
 (2014 Census)[1]
 • Municipality393,079
 • Density400/sq mi (150/km2)
 • Urban357,950
Time zoneUTC+1 (WAT)
ClimateBWh

History
Coat of arms of during the Portuguese colonial period.

The city was founded in 1843 and owes its existence to the bay of the same name having been chosen as the sea terminus of the Benguela railway to the far interior, passing through Luau to Katanga in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[3]The city is located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. The population of the municipality is 393,079 (2014) in an area of 3,648 km².[4] The municipality consists of the communes Canjala, Egipto Praia and Lobito.

Portuguese rule

Lobito, was built on a sandspit and reclaimed land, with one of Africa's finest natural harbours, protected by a 5 km long sandspit. The old municipality (concelho) was created in 1843 by the Portuguese administration. The town was also founded in 1843 by order of Maria II of Portugal, and its harbour works were begun in 1903.

It wasn't until 1843 that Maria II of Portugal approved the birth of the town, which had by then been known as Catumbela das Ostras (Catumbela of Oysters)[5]

Lobito coast.

Large developments, however, were not stimulated until the completion in 1928 of the important Benguela Railway, which connected Portuguese Angola with the Belgian Congo.

Under Portuguese rule, the port was one of Angola's busiest, exporting agricultural produce from the interior and handling transit trade from the mines of southeastern Belgian Congo and of Northern Rhodesia. Fishing, tourism and services were also important. The carnival in Lobito was also one of the most renowned and popular in Portuguese Angola.[6]

Post-independence

After the April 25, 1974 Carnation Revolution in Lisbon, Angola was offered independence. Lobito's port activities were highly limited by disruptions to railway transit and high insecurity during the Angolan Civil War (1975–2002). With peace and stability, in the 2000s, Lobito started the process of reconstruction and resumed its path to development.

Climate

Lobito experiences a mild tropical semi-arid climate with few temperature extremes. The winters are extremely dry and warm, while summers are relatively wet and hotter.

Climate data for Lobito
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 35.0
(95.0)		 35.0
(95.0)		 34.4
(93.9)		 35.6
(96.1)		 33.3
(91.9)		 33.3
(91.9)		 28.9
(84.0)		 29.4
(84.9)		 28.3
(82.9)		 30.6
(87.1)		 33.9
(93.0)		 32.8
(91.0)		 35.6
(96.1)
Average high °C (°F) 28.3
(82.9)		 29.4
(84.9)		 30.6
(87.1)		 30.0
(86.0)		 28.3
(82.9)		 25.6
(78.1)		 23.3
(73.9)		 23.3
(73.9)		 24.4
(75.9)		 26.1
(79.0)		 28.3
(82.9)		 28.3
(82.9)		 27.2
(81.0)
Daily mean °C (°F) 25.3
(77.5)		 26.4
(79.5)		 27.2
(81.0)		 27.0
(80.6)		 25.0
(77.0)		 22.2
(72.0)		 20.3
(68.5)		 20.0
(68.0)		 21.4
(70.5)		 23.3
(73.9)		 25.3
(77.5)		 25.3
(77.5)		 24.1
(75.4)
Average low °C (°F) 22.2
(72.0)		 23.3
(73.9)		 23.9
(75.0)		 23.9
(75.0)		 21.6
(70.9)		 18.9
(66.0)		 17.2
(63.0)		 16.7
(62.1)		 18.3
(64.9)		 20.6
(69.1)		 22.2
(72.0)		 22.2
(72.0)		 20.9
(69.6)
Record low °C (°F) 13.3
(55.9)		 16.1
(61.0)		 18.9
(66.0)		 18.3
(64.9)		 13.9
(57.0)		 12.8
(55.0)		 10.6
(51.1)		 11.7
(53.1)		 12.8
(55.0)		 13.9
(57.0)		 16.1
(61.0)		 17.2
(63.0)		 10.6
(51.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 20.3
(0.80)		 38.1
(1.50)		 119.4
(4.70)		 53.3
(2.10)		 2.5
(0.10)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 1.3
(0.05)		 2.5
(0.10)		 30.5
(1.20)		 25.4
(1.00)		 61.0
(2.40)		 354.0
(13.94)
Source: Sistema de Clasificación Bioclimática Mundial[7]

Transportation
Port of Lobito.

Lobito is the terminus of the Benguela Railway

Port

The Port of Lobito is located in Lobito Bay on a sandspit approximately 4.8 km long. The port is administered by the Empresa Portuaria do Lobito. The Port of Lobito handles 2,000,000 tonnes of cargo and 370 ships annually, and along with economic development in the Benguala region, port facilities are under expansion.[8]

Airports

Lobito does not have its own airport. The city is located 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) from Catumbela Airport and 33 kilometres (21 mi) from Benguela Airport.[8]

International Relations

Lobito is twinned with:

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References
  1. "Resultados Definitivos Recenseamento Geral da População e Habitação – 2014 Província de Benguela" (PDF). Instituto Nacional de Estatística, República de Angola. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  2. Citypopulation.de Population of the major cities in Angola
  3. W. Martin James, Historical Dictionary of Angola, Rowman & Littlefield, USA, 2018, p. 208
  4. Census 2014, preliminary results
  5. "Lobito - A cidade dos flamingos" (in Portuguese). destinobenguela.com. Retrieved 22 Mar 2016.
  6. LobitoAnosOuro.wmv, a film of the Lobito in Portuguese Angola, before independence from Portugal
  7. "Lobito (Angola)" (PDF). Centro de Investigaciones Fitosociológicas. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
  8. IHS Fairplay Ports & Terminals Guide. Berkshire, UK: IHS Global Limited. 2013. pp. 1-42–1-43. ISBN 9781906313562.
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