Mozambique is located on the southeastern
coast of Africa and is bordered by Tanzania to the North, South Africa
and Swaziland to the South, Zimbabwe to the West and Zambia and Malawi
to the northwest.
Mozambique is made up mainly of coastal lowlands, rising toward the
west to a plateau ranging from 500 to 2,000 ft above sea level and on
the western border to a higher plateau (6,000 to 8,000 ft), with
mountains in the north reaching a height of over 8,000 ft. The
most important rivers are the Zambezi flowing southeast across the
centre of Mozambique into the Indian Ocean, the Limpopo in the south,
the Save in the middle and the Lugfenda in the north.
Maputo
is the capital and largest city.
The Mozambique Channel separates the country from the island of
Madagascar. Mozambique’s c.1,600 mi (2,575 km) coastline is interrupted
by the mouths of numerous rivers, notably the Rovuma (which forms part
of the boundary with Tanzania), Lúrio, Incomati (Komati),
Lugela, Zambezi (which is navigable for c.290 mi/465 km within the
territory), Revùe, Save (Sabi), and Limpopo. South of the
Zambezi estuary the coastal belt is very narrow, and in the far north
the coastline is made up of rocky cliffs. Along the northern coast are
numerous islets and lagoons; in the far south is Maputo Bay.
The
northern and central interior is mountainous; Monte Binga (7,992
ft/2,436 m), the country’s loftiest point, is situated at the
Zimbabwean border W of Beira. About one third of Lake Nyasa (Lake
Malawi) falls within Mozambique’s boundaries; Lake Chilwa (Lago Chirua)
is at the border with Malawi. Much of the country is covered with
savanna; there are also extensive hardwood forests, and palms grow
widely along the coast and near rivers.
Maputo, formerly called Lourenzo Marques (after the Portuguese trader
who visited the region in 1544), was founded in the late 18th century.
Maputo Elephant Reserve is situated 79 km south of Maputo on the road
to Ponta do Ouro via the ferry to Catembe, or 112 km from Maputo via
the Boane road. The Maputo Reserve is famous for its elephant herds.
Flamingos can also be seen on the large inland lakes near the sea.
This is the world’s largest land mammal, and weighs up to seven tonnes
and reaches heights of 3.3 m at the shoulder. Elephants can live to a
potential age of 70 years. The massive tusks of older bulls can weigh
up to 50 or 60 kilograms, but tusks weighing up to 90 kilograms have
been recorded.
The Elephant’s trunk is very sensitive and can even detect water under
ground. There are as many as 50 000 muscles in an elephant’s trunk. The
sensitive finger-like appendages at the tip of the trunk enables them
to pick the smallest twig or flower. Their tusks are actually their
upper incisors, and grow continuously until they die at around 60 years
old. Although their skin is up to 3cm (1 inch) thick, it is quite
sensitive. An elephants hearing and smell are excellent but eyesight is
moderate and best in dim light.
