Luena, Angola

Luena
Luso
Municipality and town
Luena is located in Angola
Luena
Luena
Location in Angola
Coordinates: 11°47′30″S 19°54′22″E / 11.7918°S 19.9062°E / -11.7918; 19.9062
Country Angola
ProvinceMoxico Province
Area
 • Municipality and town
42,300 km2 (16,300 sq mi)
Population
 (2014 Census)[1]
 • Municipality and town
357,413
 • Density8.4/km2 (22/sq mi)
 • Urban
[2]
273,675
Time zoneUTC+1 (WAT)
ClimateCwa

Luena, formerly known as Luso, is a city and municipality in eastern Angola, administrative capital of Moxico Province. The municipality had a population of 357,413 in 2014.[1]

History

The Angolan town is best known as the resting place of former UNITA rebel leader Jonas Savimbi, who was shot and killed by Angolan government troops on February 22, 2002. Later on January 3, 2008, Savimbi's tomb at Luena Main Cemetery was vandalised and four members of the youth wing of the MPLA were charged and arrested.[3]

Climate

Climate data for Luena, Moxico Province (1940–1960)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 32.7
(90.9) 		32.4
(90.3) 		32.0
(89.6) 		33.4
(92.1) 		32.0
(89.6) 		31.0
(87.8) 		30.0
(86.0) 		33.5
(92.3) 		35.0
(95.0) 		34.3
(93.7) 		34.0
(93.2) 		32.4
(90.3) 		35.0
(95.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 26.9
(80.4) 		27.0
(80.6) 		26.8
(80.2) 		27.3
(81.1) 		27.1
(80.8) 		25.7
(78.3) 		26.2
(79.2) 		28.8
(83.8) 		30.8
(87.4) 		29.6
(85.3) 		27.3
(81.1) 		26.9
(80.4) 		27.5
(81.5)
Daily mean °C (°F) 21.8
(71.2) 		21.7
(71.1) 		21.6
(70.9) 		21.4
(70.5) 		19.4
(66.9) 		17.2
(63.0) 		17.4
(63.3) 		20.0
(68.0) 		22.6
(72.7) 		22.9
(73.2) 		21.8
(71.2) 		21.6
(70.9) 		20.8
(69.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 16.6
(61.9) 		16.4
(61.5) 		16.3
(61.3) 		15.5
(59.9) 		11.8
(53.2) 		8.8
(47.8) 		8.7
(47.7) 		11.5
(52.7) 		14.5
(58.1) 		16.2
(61.2) 		16.2
(61.2) 		16.4
(61.5) 		14.0
(57.2)
Record low °C (°F) 11.0
(51.8) 		10.7
(51.3) 		12.3
(54.1) 		9.1
(48.4) 		3.9
(39.0) 		3.1
(37.6) 		2.7
(36.9) 		4.6
(40.3) 		8.7
(47.7) 		11.0
(51.8) 		11.0
(51.8) 		11.5
(52.7) 		2.7
(36.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 226
(8.9) 		192
(7.6) 		198
(7.8) 		99
(3.9) 		6
(0.2) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		2
(0.1) 		20
(0.8) 		90
(3.5) 		169
(6.7) 		217
(8.5) 		1,219
(48.0)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 22 20 23 12 2 0 0 0 3 13 20 23 138
Average relative humidity (%) 77 77 77 71 57 47 42 39 44 61 74 77 62
Mean monthly sunshine hours 130.2 130.0 142.6 192.0 263.5 270.0 285.2 269.7 213.0 176.7 135.0 124.0 2,331.9
Mean daily sunshine hours 4.2 4.6 4.6 6.4 8.5 9.0 9.2 8.7 7.1 5.7 4.5 4.0 6.4
Source: Deutscher Wetterdienst[4]

Transportation

Luena is serviced by Luena Airport on the north side of the town.

Luena Train Station (Estação Ferroviaria De Luena) is a stop on the Benguela railway central line connecting Luau with Lobito. The station was rebuilt and features a clock tower.

Sports

  • Estádio Comandante Jones Kufuna Yembe - Mundunduleno (football stadium)
  • Bravos do Maquis Football Club

Notes

  1. ^ a b "Resultados Definitivos Recenseamento Geral da População e Habitação – 2014 Província do Moxico" (PDF). Instituto Nacional de Estatística, República de Angola. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  2. ^ Citypopulation.de Population of the major cities in Angola
  3. ^ "Jonas Savimbi's tomb vandalised, says UNITA", Mail and Guardian, January 23, 2008.
  4. ^ "Klimatafel von Luena (Luso), Prov. Moxico / Angola" (PDF). Baseline climate means (1961-1990) from stations all over the world (in German). Deutscher Wetterdienst. Retrieved 6 February 2016.