Luanda

Luanda (formerly called Loanda) is the largest city and capital of Angola. Located on the Atlantic Ocean, it is both Angola's chief seaport and administrative centre. It has a population of approximately 4,5 million (UN 2004 estimates), and is the capital city of Luanda Province. Luanda is located at 8°50'18" South, 13°14'4" East (-8.83833, 13.23444). http://earth-info.nga.mil/gns/html/cntry_files.html

History

Luanda was founded in 1575 by the Portuguese explorer Paulo Dias Novais as São Paulo de Luanda. In 1618 the fortress, Fortaleza Sao Pedro da Barra was built and later in 1634 a new fortress was built, Fortaleza de Sao Miguel. The city has been the administrative centre of Angola since 1627 (except for 1640–1648) and from c.1550 to c.1850 it was the center of a large slave trade to Brazil. In 1889 the basis for a major growth of Luanda city was laid as Governor Brito Capelo opened the gates of an aqueduct which supplied the city with water, a formerly scarse substance. After this, growth, quite as expected, increased dramatically towards 1975, with high-points such as a 1872 report which calles Luanda the "Paris of Africa" for the growth that the city had shown.

Related Topics:
1575 - Portuguese - Paulo Dias Novais - 1618 - Fortaleza Sao Pedro da Barra - 1634 - Fortaleza de Sao Miguel - Angola - 1627 - 1640 - 1648 - 1550 - 1850 - Slave trade - Brazil - 1889 - 1975 - 1872 - Paris - Africa

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After Angolan independence in 1975, much of the city's large Portuguese population left and was replaced by large numbers of Cubans, many of them soldiers. It is the seat of a Roman Catholic archbishop. It is also the location of the University of Angola and the Governor's Palace.

Related Topics:
Independence - 1975 - Cuba - Roman Catholic - University of Angola

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