Moanda

This article is about the town in Gabon. For the village and airport in the Democratic Republic of Congo, see Gbadolite Airport.

Moanda
Country	Gabon
Province	Haut-Ogooué Province

Moanda is one of the four largest towns in Gabon, lying on the N3 road in Haut Ogooué. It is one of the most important manganese mining towns in the world, under the auspices of the Compagnie Minière de l'Ogooué (COMILOG), which began mining in 1957. Moanda has a population of around 23,000 inhabitants.

Geography and climate

Moanda is surrounded by several plateaux, including the Bangombe, which is exploited by COMILOG, Mount Boudinga and Mount Moanda. The climate is equatorial. From January to March, the weather alternates between thunderstorms and hot temperatures; it is cool between July and September.

Divisions

Moanda is divided into 3 areas. The first area includes the commercial centre, and some populous districts such as Ankoula, Montagne Sainte and Fumier. The second and third areas gather the most populous districts; Lekolo, Leyima, L’Oasis, Alliance, and the Third Zone, and other districts like Mukaba.

Economy

COMILOG exports an average 3.5 million tons of manganese a year, making Gabon one of the three main manganese exporters in the world. The manganese is exploited on the Bangombe plateau (42 km²).

Transport

Moanda is served by Moanda railway Station situated outside the city.

Moanda is also home to an airfield, and crossed by the N3 road.

History

Moanda owes its existence to the discovery and then exploitation of manganese by COMILOG since 1953.

In 1959, the 75 km COMILOG Cableway to the railway at Mbinda in Congo-Brazzaville was constructed to export the manganese, but this closed in 1986 when the Trans-Gabon Railway was completed.

See also

• Muanda, Congo
• Railway stations in Gabon

References

• FallingRain Map - elevation = 330m