Benguela

Benguela
Municipality and town
Igreja Benguela
Coat of arms
Benguela Location in Angola
Coordinates: 12°33′S 13°25′E / 12.550°S 13.417°E / -12.550; 13.417Coordinates: 12°33′S 13°25′E / 12.550°S 13.417°E / -12.550; 13.417
Country	Angola
Admin. division	Benguela Province
Founded	1617
Area
• Total	2,100 km2 (800 sq mi)
Elevation	39 m (128 ft)
Population (2008)
• Total	128,084
• Density	61/km2 (160/sq mi)
Climate	BWh

Benguela (Portuguese pronunciation: [bẽˈɡɛlɐ], São Felipe de Benguela, formerly spelled Benguella) is a city in western Angola, south of Luanda, and capital of Benguela Province. It lies on a bay of the same name, in 12° 33’ S., 13° 25’ E. Benguela is one of Angola's most populous cities.

Benguela, a Portuguese fort from 1587, was founded in 1617 by the Portuguese under Manuel Cerveira Pereira, 8th Governor of Angola (1604–1607). It was long the centre of an important trade, especially in slaves to Brazil and Cuba. Ships anchored about 1.6 kilometres (1 mi) off the shore, in depths of 7 to 11 metres (23 to 36 ft) and transferred loads to smaller boats which used five or six jetties in the town. However the nearby deep-water sheltered harbour of Lobito was a much larger port.

Besides the churches of S. Felipe and S. António, the hospital, and the fortress, there were, as of 1911, only a few stone-built houses. A short way beyond Benguela is Baía Farta, where salt was manufactured and sulphur was extracted. Close to Baia Farta was the beach of Baia Azul. The city prospered and grew in the following decades. The Benguela Railway was built in the early 20th century by Portugal to connect the city and Lobito to the interior, and it achieved great success when linked to the Copperbelt of Katanga, DR Congo and Zambia. Starting in the early 20th century, Benguela attracted, developed, and retained quality businesses and professionals into its thriving and growing economy. Sisal and fishing industries expanded and the financial, construction and services market boomed until 1974.

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Wikipedia