Located on the Atlantic Ocean along the Southwest coast of Africa, Luanda is the administrative center and largest port in the country.
Manufacturing in the city includes building materials, textiles, processed foods, plastic and metalware, cigarettes and oil refining from the country's numerous offshore deposits.
Luanda was the center of a major slave trade, controlled by the Portuguese, with Brazil. Independent in 1974, a civil war was waged from 1975 to 2002, which saw most of the Portuguese leave the country.
Most residents of Luanda are members of African ethnic groups. The largest group is the Mbunda which has three large sub-groups--the Dembos, Mbaka and Ndongo.
Sights in the area include Benfica Market which sells both art and everyday necessities; Mussulo island, a long thin peninsula and home to the areas cleanest beaches; and Fortaleza, or fort, built by the Portuguese and a good place for city views.
