Cuíto facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cuíto
Silva Porto
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Municipality
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 Cuíto
Location in Angola
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| Country |  Angola |
| Province | Bié Province |
| Founded | 1750 |
| Area | |
| • Municipality | 1,560 km2 (600 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,695 m (5,561 ft) |
| Population
(2014 Census)
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| • Municipality | 450,881 |
| • Density | 289.0/km2 (748.6/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 355,423 |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (WAT) |
| Area code(s) | (+244) 48 |
| Climate | Cwb |
Cuíto, once known as Silva Porto, is a city and municipality in central Angola. It is the capital of Bié Province. In 2014, about 450,881 people lived there. Experts believe Cuíto will be one of Africa's fastest-growing cities between 2020 and 2025.
Contents
History of Cuíto
How Cuíto Was Founded
The city of Cuíto is located in the historical heart of the Ovimbundu kingdom. The ruler of this kingdom was named Viye. He and his wife, Cahanda, helped build the city. Later, the Portuguese named the Bié Province after ruler Viye.
Early European Influence
The Ovimbundu people traded with European slave traders. This made the area important for business and brought colonists to the region. The Portuguese officially founded the city in 1750. They later renamed it Silva Porto, after António da Silva Porto. He built his home, embala Belmonte, in the area.
Growth and Conflict
The nice climate in Bié Province attracted many Portuguese settlers. Many moved to Silva Porto in the early 1900s. This was when the Benguela Railway connected the city to the coast.
Cuíto has a long history of challenges. This began with the African slave trade and conflicts between different groups. In the 1960s, the Portuguese used Silva Porto as a training center. They trained Angolan soldiers to fight nationalist groups during the Portuguese Colonial War.
The Angolan Civil War in Cuíto
After Angola became independent from Portugal in 1975, Cuíto faced its toughest times. On January 6, 1993, during the Angolan Civil War, a group called UNITA surrounded the city. This lasted for over nine months. During this time, more than 30,000 people were affected by the war and hunger. No one could enter or leave the city for nine months, and the city was badly damaged. UNITA was eventually forced out of Cuíto. They tried to capture the city again in 1998, using heavy artillery and tanks.
Climate in Cuíto
Understanding Cuíto's Weather
Cuíto is located on the eastern side of the Bié Plateau. The climate here is cooler than you might expect for a tropical place. The average temperature each year is 18 degrees Celsius (64 degrees Fahrenheit). This is mainly because the city is at a high altitude.
Seasons and Rainfall
The coolest time of year is from May to August. During these months, there is almost no rain. September and October are the hottest months, with a little bit of rain. The main rainy season is from November to April, when heavy rains fall.
| Climate data for Cuíto | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 29 (84) |
28 (82) |
28 (82) |
29 (84) |
28 (82) |
27 (81) |
27 (81) |
30 (86) |
31 (88) |
31 (88) |
29 (84) |
28 (82) |
31 (88) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 25 (77) |
24 (75) |
24 (75) |
24 (75) |
24 (75) |
23 (73) |
24 (75) |
26 (79) |
28 (82) |
26 (79) |
24 (75) |
23 (73) |
25 (77) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 19 (66) |
19 (66) |
19 (66) |
18 (64) |
17 (63) |
14 (57) |
15 (59) |
17 (63) |
20 (68) |
19 (66) |
19 (66) |
18 (64) |
18 (64) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 14 (57) |
14 (57) |
15 (59) |
13 (55) |
10 (50) |
6 (43) |
7 (45) |
9 (48) |
12 (54) |
13 (55) |
14 (57) |
14 (57) |
12 (54) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 3 (37) |
7 (45) |
5 (41) |
0 (32) |
−1 (30) |
−5 (23) |
0 (32) |
0 (32) |
3 (37) |
6 (43) |
6 (43) |
5 (41) |
−5 (23) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 193 (7.6) |
196 (7.7) |
203 (8.0) |
76 (3.0) |
10 (0.4) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
3 (0.1) |
23 (0.9) |
109 (4.3) |
193 (7.6) |
221 (8.7) |
1,227 (48.3) |
| Source: weatherbase.com | |||||||||||||
Transportation in Cuíto
Getting Around Cuíto
Cuíto is connected by the Benguela railway. This railway once linked the inland provinces to the coast. The train station for Cuíto is a few kilometers north of the city. The railway is expected to be fixed and improved in the coming years. You can also fly directly to Cuíto from Luanda, using the Joaquim Kapango Airport.
See also
In Spanish: Kuito para niños
