Porto Amboim

Porto Amboim Kissonde Benguela
Municipality and town
Porto Amboim
Coordinates: 10°43′6″S 13°45′0″E / 10.71833°S 13.75000°E / -10.71833; 13.75000
Country	Angola
Province	Cuanza Sul
Elevation	0 m (3 ft)
Population  (2014 Census)[1]
• Total	242,444
• Density	14/km2 (40/sq mi)
Climate	Aw
Porto Amboim Lighthouse
Constructed	1930s
Construction	masonry tower
Height	12 m (39 ft)
Shape	quadrangular tower with balcony, external stairs and light[2][3]
Markings	white
Operator	Instituto Marítimo e Portuário de Angola
Focal height	110 m (360 ft)
Range	9 nmi (17 km; 10 mi)
Characteristic	Oc(2) W 6s
Angola no.	PT-5272[3]

Porto Amboim is a port town in Cuanza Sul Province, Angola with a population of 65,000; it comprises an area of 4,638 km². In the past Porto Amboim was connected by an isolated 123 km 610 mm (2 ft) narrow gauge railway to Gabela, albeit closed in 1987 due to the civil war and to the abandonment of most coffee plantations, the biggest source of revenue from Gabela. Originally Porto Amboim was known as Kissonde, a small village later colonized in 1587 by the Portuguese naming it Benguela and later Benguela Velha (Old Benguela) due to the creation of another village today known as Benguela located 350 km south of Benguela Velha. In 1923, the name was changed to Porto Amboim. Today (2014) Porto Amboim is one of the growing areas for the offshore industry. The pre-salt in front of the coast of Angola, with Porto Amboim in the centre is a planned development area. With companies as Paenal, a joint venture between Sonangol, SBM and DSME and Heerema Porto Amboim, the two major offshore fabrication yards, Porto Amboim is developing.