Zambezia Province (Província de Zambézia)
Zambezia has a total area of 103,478 km2; much of it drained by the Zambezi River. Much of the coast consists of mangrove swamps, and there is considerable forest inland.
Agricultural products include rice, maize, cassava, cashews, sugarcane, soybeans, coconuts, citrus, cotton, and tea. The country's largest tea estates are at Gurúè, while Lioma is a centre of soybean production. Fishing is especially productive of shrimp, and gemstones are mined at several sites.
Vasco da Gama landed at the site of Quelimane in 1498. Shortly after, the Portuguese established a permanent presence, and many moved up the Zambezi into the interior, for many years the farthest inland European presence (although over time there was much intermarrying, and few residents were of purely Portuguese descent).
Zambezia Province is divided into the 16 districts of:
* Alto Molocue District - with an area of 6,386 km2 and 278,064 people,
* Chinde District - with an area of 4,403 km2 and 121,173 people,
* Gilé District - with an area of 8,875 km2 and 168,962 people,
* Gurué District - with an area of 5,606 km2 and 302,948 people,
* Ile District - with an area of 5,589 km2 and 292,504 people,
Map - Zambezia Province (Província de Zambézia)
Map
Country - Mozambique
Flag of Mozambique |
Notably Northern Mozambique lies within the monsoon trade winds of the Indian Ocean and is frequentely affected by disruptive weather. Between the 7th and 11th centuries, a series of Swahili port towns developed on that area, which contributed to the development of a distinct Swahili culture and dialect. In the late medieval period, these towns were frequented by traders from Somalia, Ethiopia, Egypt, Arabia, Persia, and India.
Currency / Language
ISO | Currency | Symbol | Significant figures |
---|---|---|---|
MZN | Mozambican metical | MT | 2 |
ISO | Language |
---|---|
PT | Portuguese language |