Maputo is the capital and largest city of the southeastern African country of Mozambique. The city overlooks Maputo Bay and is Mozambique's main port on the Indian Ocean. Maputo is in the southernmost region of Mozambique, not far from South Africa.
Places of interest
In the 19th century, the city was protected by a Portuguese fort that still stands. The city also has many museums, including a national art museum, a natural history museum, a geology museum, a museum celebrating Mozambique's independence, and even a money museum. The city's university was started in 1962. The municipal market, the botanical garden, and a picturesque train station are also popular places.
Economy
Mozambique is a poor country. The economy is based mostly on farming and fishing. The factories of Maputo mostly process fish and food.
The city depends heavily on its ocean port, one of the most important on the east coast of Africa. The port is connected by rail lines with the interior of Africa. Ships load up with fish, sugar, cotton, tea, cashew nuts, and other products. In addition, ships are repaired and built at the port. Political problems, both in Mozambique and in neighboring countries, reduced trade through the port at the end of the 20th century. The Maputo area is known for its fine beaches. But political problems hurt the tourist trade as well.
History
Maputo was founded as a settlement serving a Portuguese fort that was completed in 1787. The town was originally called Lourenço Marques, after a Portuguese trader by that name who had explored the coast more than 200 years earlier. It became the capital of the Portuguese territory in East Africa in 1907.
In 1975 the territory became the independent country of Mozambique. The following year the city was renamed Maputo. During a long period of civil war that followed the coming of independence, many rural villagers left their homes and moved to Maputo. Other people came looking for work, or to escape drought, floods, and starvation. Because of the new arrivals, the city grew quickly. Population (1997 estimate), 989,390.
