Benguela

Benguela is a city in Angola.

It sits by the sea in the west.

Many people live in this city.

Long ago, people built a railway here. This train helped move goods.

Now, people trade many things in Benguela. They trade coffee and corn.

They also trade sugar and soap. People catch fish near the coast.

It is a very busy place to live.

Benguela is a city in western Angola.

It is the capital of Benguela Province. The city sits right by the sea.

A long time ago, Portuguese people started the city in 1617.

It was a busy place for trade. Many ships once stayed near the shore.

In the early 1900s, people built the Benguela Railway. This train line helped move goods to the interior. Later, a long war began in Angola. The war lasted for more than 20 years. This caused the railway to close for a time.

Now, the city is more peaceful. People are fixing the railway again.

Many things are traded in Benguela. People grow coffee, corn, and sugar in the land nearby. The city also makes soap, tools, and pottery. Fishing is also a big job there.

Many people live in the city. In 2014, over 555,000 people lived in the city itself. There is also a big airport for travel.

Benguela is a large city in western Angola.

It serves as the capital of Benguela Province. This city is a very important place for trade in the region. It acts as a link between western and eastern Angola. Many people live here, making it one of the most populous cities in the country.

In 2014, the city had 555,124 people. The wider municipality had 561,775 people.

The city has many different ways of moving goods and people. It has its own airport called Benguela Airport. A railway called the Benguela Railway connects the city to other places. This train line once linked the coast to the Copperbelt in DR Congo and Zambia. Nearby, the deep-water port of Lobito handles much of the foreign trade.

This port helps support the whole Benguela region today.

Benguela has a very long history that began a long time ago.

The Portuguese founded the city in 1617. They named it São Felipe de Benguela. It was started under Manuel Cerveira Pereira, who was the 8th Governor of Angola. For a long time, it was a major center for trade. Ships would anchor off the shore to move loads to smaller boats. In the early 1900s, the city grew even more as businesses arrived.

Many different things are grown or made in this area.

Farmers in the interior grow coffee, corn, sugarcane, and tobacco. They also grow sisal. People in the city process fish and mill sugarcane. Benguela also makes things like soap, pottery, and tools. They even trade manganese from the interior. Some people even extract sulphur and salt nearby at Baía Farta.

Life in Benguela has changed through many different times.

After 1975, Angola became an independent country. Then, a civil war lasted for more than 20 years. This war caused the big railway line to close for a while. During this time, many people moved to the city to find safety. Since the mid-2000s, things have become more peaceful. People have even started restoring the railway to Huambo. The city also has a university founded in 2009.

Benguela is a major city located in western Angola.

It serves as the capital of Benguela Province. This coastal city acts as a vital commercial link between the western and eastern parts of Angola. It is one of the most populous urban areas in the nation. According to the 2014 census, the city had 555,124 residents. The total population of the municipality reached 561,775 people.

The history of Benguela began in the early 17th century. The Portuguese founded the settlement in 1617. They originally named the location São Felipe de Benguela. This establishment occurred under Manuel Cerveira Pereira, the 8th Governor of Angola. For many years, the city functioned as a central hub for important trade. Historically, it was a major center for the trade of slaves to Cuba and Brazil. Ships would anchor off the coast in the ocean. Crews then transferred their loads to smaller boats using five or six jetties in the town.

As the city grew, its infrastructure and economy changed significantly.

In the early 20th century, Portugal built the Benguela Railway. This line was designed to connect Benguela and the nearby town of Lobito to the interior. The railway became very successful when it linked to the Copperbelt. This region includes Katanga in the DR Congo and parts of Zambia. By the early 1900s, the city attracted many quality businesses and professionals. Industries such as fishing and sisal production expanded rapidly. The financial, construction, and service markets also boomed until 1974.

The political landscape of the region shifted in the mid-1970s. Following the Carnation Revolution in Lisbon in April 1974, Angola became an independent nation in 1975. However, the country soon entered the Angolan Civil War. This conflict lasted for more than 20 years, ending in 2002. The war caused the important Benguela Railway to close. Only the short section between Benguela and Lobito remained operational for a time. During this period, the city's population grew because many refugees arrived from the countryside. In 1983, the population was recorded at 155,000 people.

In the 21st century, Benguela has entered a period of restoration and growth.

Since the mid-2000s, a more peaceful environment has allowed for new projects. Workers have commenced the restoration of the railway line between Benguela and Huambo. The city's economy relies on various local and regional resources. Farmers in the interior grow coffee, corn, sugarcane, tobacco, and sisal. These goods are widely traded through Benguela. The city also trades manganese from the interior.

Local industries in the city provide many essential products. Benguela is known for fish processing and the milling of sugarcane. The city also produces soap, pottery, and various tools. Nearby, at a place called Baía Farta, people manufactured salt and extracted sulphur. While Benguela is a commercial center, much of its foreign trade is handled through Lobito. Lobito is a deep-water port located north of Benguela. Although the civil war severely disrupted Lobito, the port has since revived to support the entire region.

Modern Benguela features diverse cultural and educational institutions.

The city is home to the Universidade Katyavala Bwila and Ruvandro Ferreira, which was founded in 2009. Religion plays a significant role in the community. There are many Christian churches and temples, including the Roman Catholic Diocese of Benguela. Other groups include the Baptist Convention of Angola and the Assemblies of God. The city also maintains historic sites, such as the Archaeological Museum. These elements combine to make Benguela a complex and active part of the Angolan landscape.