Mozambique - Tourism and Travel

The Republic of Mozambique is a country in east southern Africa on the coast of the Indian Ocean.

It has an area of 308,642 square miles (799,380 square kilometers).

Most of Mozambique consists of a savanna plateau that is drained by the Limpopo and Zambezi Rivers.

There are highlands in the north.

The Great Rift Valley runs through northern Mozambique.

Lake Nyasa, which occupies a deep trough in the Great Rift Valley, lies between Mozambique, Malawi and Tanzania. The land here has been lowered by as much as 3,000 feet (920 meters).

Mozambique has a tropical climate. There is usually rainfall in the winter, but sometimes there is drought.

The capital of Mozambique is Maputo.

22,894,000 people live in Mozambique.

Most of them live along the coast or in the river valleys.

47% of the people are Makua Lomwe, 23% are Tsonga, 12% are Malawi, 11% are Shona and 4% are Yao.

Portuguese is the official language. Makua, Xitsonga, Lomwe and Sena are also spoken.

56% of the population practices traditional religions, 30% are Christian and 14% are Muslim.

Subsistence agriculture forms the basis of the economy.

Shrimp, sugar, cotton and cashews are important exports.

Mozambique was once a Portuguese colony.

It became independent in 1975.

Civil war ravaged Mozambique between 1977 and 1992.

Today, Mozambique is one of the least developed countries on Earth.

The economy is heavily dependent on foreign aid.

Mozambique has a presidential system of government.

The official currency is the new metical, which consists of 100 centavos.