Bié Plateau in the context of Huambo


Bié Plateau in the context of Huambo

⭐ Core Definition: Bié Plateau

The Bié Plateau or Central Plateau of Angola is a plateau that occupies most of central Angola. The elevation of the plateau is from 1,520 m (4,990 ft) to 1,824.8956 m (5,987.190 ft).

Five major rivers have their headwaters or significant tributaries on the plateau: the Cunene, Cuanza, Okavango, Zambezi, and Congo rivers. It has relatively fertile soil and high rainfall, compared to the coastal region of Angola to its west. Its climate is cool and has enough rainfall to allow for the cultivation of coffee, corn, rice, sisal, sugarcane, and peanuts. Along the more elevated parts, more rain falls, but it gradually declines further within. About half of the rural population of Angola reside on the Bié plateau. The Benguela Railway connects it to the ocean and its principal towns are Huambo and Kuito.

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Bié Plateau in the context of Ovimbundu

The Ovimbundu, also known as the Southern Mbundu, are a Bantu ethnic group who live on the Bié Plateau of central Angola and in the coastal strip west of these highlands. As the largest ethnic group in Angola, they make up 38 percent of the country's population. Overwhelmingly the Ovimbundu follow Christianity, mainly the Igreja Evangélica Congregacional de Angola (IECA), founded by American missionaries, and the Catholic Church. However, some still retain beliefs and practices from African traditional religions.
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