Cabinda (city)

Cabinda
Tchiowa
Cidade de Cabinda
Municipality and city

Seal
Cabinda

Location in Angola

Coordinates: 5°33′36″S 12°11′24″E / 5.56000°S 12.19000°E / -5.56000; 12.19000Coordinates: 5°33′36″S 12°11′24″E / 5.56000°S 12.19000°E / -5.56000; 12.19000
Country Angola
Admin. division Cabinda province
Founded 1883
City Status 1956
Area
 • Total 1,823 km2 (704 sq mi)
Elevation 24 m (79 ft)
Population (2014 Census)
 • Total 598,210
 • Density 330/km2 (850/sq mi)
Climate Aw

Cabinda (Kongo: Tsiowa) is a city located in the Cabinda Province, an exclave of Angola. Angolan sovereignty over Cabinda is disputed by the secessionist Republic of Cabinda. The municipality of Cabinda covered 1,823 square kilometres (704 square miles) and contained 598,210 inhabitants in 2014. The residents of the city are known as Cabindas or Fiotes. Cabinda, due to its proximity to rich oil reserves, serves as one of Angola's main oil ports.[1][2]

History

The city was founded by the Portuguese as a harbour territory for the purposes of the slave trade.

There are considerable offshore oil reserves nearby.

Geography

Cabinda is located on the Atlantic Ocean coast in the south of Cabinda Province, and sits on the right bank of the Bele River.[1] It is 56 kilometres (35 mi) north of Moanda (DR Congo), 70 kilometres (43 mi) north of Congo River estuary and 137 kilometres (85 mi) south of Pointe-Noire (Rep. Congo).[3]

Districts

The city of Cabinda is divided into three districts, or comuna:

Language

Ibinda, a Bantu language, is the primary language of both the city and province of Cabinda.[2] Portuguese, the official language of Angola, is also spoken, though mostly as an administrative role. Since Cabinda was colonized relatively later (late nineteenth century) by Portugal compared to most of Angola, Portuguese isn't as widely spoken, though language speakers are rapidly growing in number.

Transport

In 2012, a proposed railway connection to the main Angolan system has to cross territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Cabinda". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc. 2014. Retrieved 2014-06-21.
  2. 1 2 "Cabinda" (in Portuguese). Luanda, Angola: Info-Angola. 2014. Retrieved 2014-05-21.
  3. ↑ Google. "Cabinda (city)" (Map). Google Maps. Google.
  4. ↑ "Region 1: Cabinda". Postcode Query. 2014. Retrieved 2014-06-21.

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