Kalabo
{{Short description|Town in Zambia}}
{{EngvarB|date=June 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name = Kalabo
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| settlement_type = City
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| pushpin_map = Zambia
| pushpin_label_position = bottom
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| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = Zambia
| subdivision_type1 = Province
| subdivision_name1 = Western Province
| subdivision_type2 = District
| subdivision_name2 = Kalabo District
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| established_title = Established
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| population_as_of = 2020
| population_note = Estimate
| population_total = 7731
| population_density_km2 = auto
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| timezone = CAT
| utc_offset = +2
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| coordinates = {{coord|14|59|28|S|22|40|44|E|region:ZW|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 1019
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| blank_name = Climate
| blank_info = Cwa
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Kalabo is an urban centre and the seat of Kalabo District, in the Western Province of Zambia.{{cite web|title=Profile of Kalabo Town and Kalabo District |url=http://www.comboniane.org/where-we-are/africa-2/zambia/kalabo |publisher=Comboniane.org |date=2020 | author=Comboni Missionary Sisters |access-date=10 June 2020 | location=Rome}}
Geography
=Location=
The town is located on the plains west of the Zambezi River and the Barotse Floodplain, and approximately {{convert|58|km|0}}, by road east of the town of Sikongo, Zambia, close to the border with Angola.{{google maps| url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Kalabo,+Zambia/Sikongo,+Zambia/@-15.0074426,22.1410713,10z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x19601f104a943b3d:0xec313c38c32d01b1!2m2!1d22.6779684!2d-14.9931607!1m5!1m1!1s0x1bdfc0bcfc49ef4b:0xcd749f2756d0aa85!2m2!1d22.1653766!2d-15.0323294!3e0 |title=Distance Between Kalabo, Zambia and Sikongo, Zambia |access-date-10 June 2020}} This is approximately {{convert|660|km|0}}, by road, west of Lusaka, Zambia's capital and largest city.{{google maps|title=Road Distance Between Lusaka and Kalabo | url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Kalabo,+Zambia/Lusaka,+Zambia/@-15.4879451,20.9899875,6z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x19601f104a943b3d:0xec313c38c32d01b1!2m2!1d22.6779684!2d-14.9931607!1m5!1m1!1s0x1940f37d3cbcaa49:0xd0d093c1462013eb!2m2!1d28.3228165!2d-15.3875259!3e0 |access-date=10 June 2020}}
The geographical coordinates of Kalabo are:14°59'28.0"S, 22°40'44.0"E (Latitude:-14.991111; Longitude:22.678889).{{google maps|title=Location of Kalabo, Zambia | url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/14%C2%B059'28.0%22S+22%C2%B040'44.0%22E/@-21.8593386,32.6424311,5165765m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d-14.9911111!4d22.6788889 |access-date=10 June 2020}} Kalabo sits at an average elevation of {{convert|1019|m|0}} above mean sea level.{{cite web|url=https://www.floodmap.net/Elevation/ElevationMap/?gi=915471 |title=Elevation of Kalabo, Zamba |date=10 June 2020 | publisher=Floodmap.net |access-date=10 June 2020 |author=Flood Map}}
=Climate=
Kalabo has a fairly dry tropical savanna climate (Köppen: Aw),{{Cite journal |date=23 October 2023 |title=Table 1 Overview of the Köppen-Geiger climate classes including the defining criteria. |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41597-023-02549-6/tables/1 |journal=Nature: Scientific Data |language=en}} characterized by warm to hot temperatures and distinct wet and dry seasons. June and July are the coolest months, while October is the hottest month with average high temperatures exceeding {{convert|35|C}}. The wet season, from November to March, experiences significant rainfall, while the dry season, from May to October, is marked by a lack of precipitation.
{{Weather box
| width = auto
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| metric first = yes
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| location = Kalabo (1991–2020)
| Jan record high C = 39.5
| Feb record high C = 37.6
| Mar record high C = 37.0
| Apr record high C = 38.4
| May record high C = 35.0
| Jun record high C = 33.6
| Jul record high C = 33.4
| Aug record high C = 37.5
| Sep record high C = 39.4
| Oct record high C = 40.3
| Nov record high C = 39.8
| Dec record high C = 38.0
| year record high C =
| Jan high C = 30.4
| Feb high C = 30.6
| Mar high C = 30.5
| Apr high C = 30.4
| May high C = 29.3
| Jun high C = 27.4
| Jul high C = 27.3
| Aug high C = 31.0
| Sep high C = 33.8
| Oct high C = 35.4
| Nov high C = 33.1
| Dec high C = 31.5
| year high C = 29.2
| Jan mean C = 24.6
| Feb mean C = 24.9
| Mar mean C = 24.9
| Apr mean C = 24.0
| May mean C = 21.3
| Jun mean C = 18.7
| Jul mean C = 18.4
| Aug mean C = 21.6
| Sep mean C = 24.6
| Oct mean C = 26.7
| Nov mean C = 25.8
| Dec mean C = 25.2
| year mean C = 23.4
| Jan low C = 18.8
| Feb low C = 19.2
| Mar low C = 19.2
| Apr low C = 17.6
| May low C = 13.3
| Jun low C = 10.0
| Jul low C = 9.5
| Aug low C = 12.1
| Sep low C = 15.4
| Oct low C = 18.0
| Nov low C = 18.4
| Dec low C = 18.9
| year low C = 14.7
| Jan record low C = 15.6
| Feb record low C = 15.6
| Mar record low C = 13.1
| Apr record low C = 7.7
| May record low C = 4.8
| Jun record low C = 2.0
| Jul record low C = 2.8
| Aug record low C = 4.6
| Sep record low C = 7.6
| Oct record low C = 11.0
| Nov record low C = 8.5
| Dec record low C = 14.5
| year record low C =
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 197.8
| Feb precipitation mm = 149.9
| Mar precipitation mm = 141.7
| Apr precipitation mm = 40.3
| May precipitation mm = 0.6
| Jun precipitation mm = 0.1
| Jul precipitation mm = 0.0
| Aug precipitation mm = 0.0
| Sep precipitation mm = 0.8
| Oct precipitation mm = 15.5
| Nov precipitation mm = 70.6
| Dec precipitation mm = 140.0
| year precipitation mm = 757.2
| source 1 = NOAA{{cite web
|url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-1-WMO-Normals-9120/Zambia/CSV/Kalabo_67625.csv
|title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991-2020 — Kalabo
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = January 23, 2024}}
}}
Overview
It is situated on the bank of the Luanginga River across which a small pontoon ferry connects to a dirt track going north-west to the Angolan border. Kalabo is the base for the Liuwa Plain National Park which can be reached by off-road vehicles about {{convert|20|km|0}}, north of the pontoon. Zambia's Western Province was formerly known as Barotseland, and Liuwa Plain was the Barotse king's hunting grounds which Lewanika made into a game reserve in the 19th century.{{cite web|url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/ |title=Oxford Dictionary of National Biography: Lewanika (c.1842–1916) |date=2020 | author=Hugh Macmillan|publisher=Oxford University Press | access-date=10 June 2020 |location=Oxford, United Kingdom}}
Population
In 2010, the national population census and household survey enumerated the population of Kalabo Town at 2,178 people.{{cite web|url=https://www.citypopulation.de/php/zambia-admin.php?adm2id=1001 |title=Urban Population of Kalabo District in 2010 |publisher=Citypopulation.de |date=14 July 2019 | author=Central Statistical Office Zambia |access-date=10 June 2020}} In 2020, the town's population was estimated at 7,731 inhabitants.{{cite web|title=Population of Cities in Zambia |url=https://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/zambia-population/cities/ |publisher=World Population Review |date=2020 | author=World Population Review |access-date=10 June 2020}}
Transport
Access to Kalabo by road was difficult but now after the completion of the road between Kalabo and Mongu, it is now easier. The section crossing the floodplain is called the Barotse Floodplain Causeway and is counted as an extension of the Lusaka-Mongu Road. The Mongu-Kalabo Road measures {{convert|70|km|0}} in length.{{google maps|title=Road Distance Between Kalabo and Mongu | url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Kalabo,+Zambia/Mongu,+Zambia/@-15.6185124,22.4387147,9z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x19601f104a943b3d:0xec313c38c32d01b1!2m2!1d22.6779684!2d-14.9931607!1m5!1m1!1s0x195fd88372469f07:0x89219724021c882e!2m2!1d23.1501117!2d-15.2735504!3e0 |access-date=11 June 2020}} The city of Mongu is the provincial capital of Zambia's Western Province.{{cite web|url=http://www.daily-mail.co.zm/mongu-feels-ripe-for-city-status/ |title=Mongu feels ripe for city status |date=29 January 2018|newspaper=Zambia Daily Mail |author=Benedict Tembo |access-date=13 June 2020 | location=Lusaka}}
Before the construction of the road, Kalabo was usually cut off by road in the rainy season. The dirt tracks across the floodplain from Mongu become flooded, and frequently in poor condition at other times. The tracks go to two ferries across the main channel of the Zambezi, a northern one near Libonda accessed from Mongu via Limulunga, and a southern one at Sandaula accessed via Lealui. In recent years dirt roads on raised earth embankments have been constructed from Mongu to Lealui and from Kalabo to Sandaula. This is part of an ambitious long-term regional plan to provide the first ever major link between the road networks of Zambia and Angola via a paved causeway across the floodplain and a bridge over the Zambezi, replacing the ferry. A paved highway would then be built from Kalabo north-west to the Angolan border and beyond. Although originally intended for completion in 2006, construction has proved more difficult than anticipated and large sections were washed away in floods in 2003/2004, resulting in funding shortfalls.{{cite web|url=http://www.zambia-travel-guide.com/bradt_guide.asp?bradt=871 |title=The Bradt Zambia Travel Guide: "The Western Provinces :Barotseland, Mongu: Getting There & Away" |publisher=Zambia Travel Guide |date=2004 |author=Chris McIntyre |access-date=11 June 2020}}
Kalabo is also served by Kalabo Airport, approximately {{convert|4|km|0}}, west of the town.{{google maps|url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Kalabo,+Zambia/Leti%C5%A1t%C4%9B+Kalabo,+Zambia/@-15.0179687,22.5970564,7213m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x19601f104a943b3d:0xec313c38c32d01b1!2m2!1d22.6779684!2d-14.9931607!1m5!1m1!1s0x19601f8b57621065:0x54961a4a2718d1af!2m2!1d22.6474272!2d-14.9984072!3e0 |title=Road Distance Between Kalabo and Kalabo Airport |access-date=11 June 2020}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.lusakatimes.com/2016/04/15/117416/ Mongu and the Mongu-Kalabo Road in Pictures] As of 15 April 2016.
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