Saurimo

Saurimo, formerly known as Henrique de Carvalho, is a city in Angola. It is the capital of Lunda Sul Province. As of 2014, Saurimo has a population of 393,000 people, which steadily grows as a result of migration.^[2]

Saurimo Henrique de Carvalho
Municipality
Saurimo Location in Angola
Coordinates: 9°39′S 20°24′E
Country	Angola
Province	Lunda Sul Province
Founded	1927
Elevation	1,081 m (3,547 ft)
Population  (2014)[1]
• Total	442,437
Time zone	UTC+1 (WAT)
Climate	Aw

History

The city was formerly known as Henrique de Carvalho, a Portuguese explorer, who visited the region in 1884 and first made contact with the local Lunda people.^[3] In 1956, Saurimo was raised to city status.^[3]

Geography

Saurimo is located in northeastern Angola at an elevation of 1,084 m (3,556 ft) above sea level. It is a garrison town and local market center.^[3]

Economy

The main economic activities in Saurimo include agriculture, farming, and diamonds. Other smaller industries include fishing and handicraft. The SMC (Sociedade Mineira de Catoca) is one of the world's largest mining areas, along with Endiama which helps distribute its diamonds worldwide.

Transportation

Saurimo is served by Saurimo Airport, which has scheduled service to the capital Luanda. As of April 2023, there are announcements of a branch line from Luena on the Benguela Railway to Saurimo.^[4]

Notable people

• Yola Araújo is an Angolan songwriter and musician;