Lobito | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) .jpg) _(cropped).jpg)  .jpg) | |
 Flag  Seal | |
  Lobito Location in Angola | |
| Coordinates:12°21′0″S13°32′47″E / 12.35000°S 13.54639°E /-12.35000; 13.54639 | |
| Country |  Angola |
| Province | Benguela Province |
| Incorporated | 1843 |
| Area | |
| 554 km2 (214 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 139 m (456 ft) |
| Population (2014 Census)[1] | |
| 393,079 | |
| • Density | 710/km2 (1,800/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 357,950 |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (WAT) |
| Climate | BWh |
Lobito is amunicipality in Angola. It is located inBenguela Province, on the Atlantic Coast north of theCatumbela Estuary. The Lobito municipality had a population of 393,079 in 2014.[1]
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 theBenguela railway to the far interior, passing throughLuau toKatanga in theDemocratic 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 thecommunes Canjala, Egipto Praia and Lobito.
Lobito, was built on a sandspit and reclaimed land, with one of Africa's finestnatural harbours, protected by a 5 km long sandspit. The old municipality (concelho) was created in 1843 by thePortuguese administration. The town was also founded in 1843 by order ofMaria II of Portugal, and its harbour works were begun in 1903.
It wasn't until 1843 thatMaria II of Portugal approved the foundation of the town, which had by then been known as Catumbela das Ostras (Catumbela of Oysters)[5]
Large developments, however, were not stimulated until the completion in 1928 of the importantBenguela Railway, which connectedPortuguese Angola with theBelgian Congo.
Under Portuguese rule, the port was one of Angola's busiest, and the busiest of Africa, exportingagricultural produce from the interior and handling transit trade from the mines of southeastern Belgian Congo and ofNorthern Rhodesia.Fishing, tourism and services were also important. Thecarnival in Lobito was also one of the most renowned and popular in Portuguese Angola.[6]
After the 25 April 1974Carnation Revolution in Lisbon, Angola was offered independence. Lobito's port activities were highly limited by disruptions to railway transit and high insecurity during theAngolan Civil War (1975–2002). With peace and stability, in the 2000s, Lobito started the process of reconstruction and resumed its path to development.
Lobito experiences a mild tropicalarid 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) |
| Mean daily maximum °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) |
| Mean daily minimum °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) |
| Averageprecipitation 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] | |||||||||||||
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Lobito is the terminus of theBenguela Railway
ThePort 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]
Lobito does not have its own airport. The city is located 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) fromCatumbela Airport and 33 kilometres (21 mi) fromBenguela Airport.[8]
Lobito istwinned with:
Sintra, Portugal
Lowell, Massachusetts, United States
