Luanda

Capital, largest city, and main industrial port of Angola; population (2007 est) 2,977,200. Products include cotton, coffee, sugar, tobacco, timber, iron ore, motor vehicles, textiles, paper, fuel oil, and lubricants.

Founded in 1575 by Portuguese settlers, it became a Portuguese colonial administrative centre as well as an outlet for slaves transported to Brazil. Luanda became the capital of Angola at independence in 1975 and is the home of the University of Angola (1963), the Angola Institute of Education and Social Service (1962), and the Museum of Angola (1938).

Luanda is situated between the mouths of the Bango and Cuanza rivers, and is protected from the sea by a narrow, sandy island, 29 km/18 mi long, providing a good harbour. Oil was discovered nearby in 1955, and there is a major oil refinery.

In August 1974 over 10,000 Africans fled the city following racial troubles, and in 1975 many of the 150,000 whites left as the city was at the centre of fighting between rival liberation movements.