Here is a list of top 27 fun and interesting facts about Mozambique:
#2 The Bantu people (a general label for the 300 to 600 ethnic groups in Africa who speak Bantu languages) settled in these lands about 2,000 years ago, setting up the great Mwenemutapa Empire in the south and center of the country.
#3 The first Europeans to arrive in this country were the Portuguese in 1498. They colonized the country in 1505 and ruled for almost 500 years.
#4 In 1975, Mozambique became independent from Portugal and the country celebrates its National Day on 25th June. After independence, this country has been mired in civil war and military takeovers. Millions of people fled the country as a result of famine and war.
#5 In January 2015, Filipe Nyusi, of the ruling Frelimo party, was sworn in as president. Currently, Mozambique is a multi-party democracy and the government is divided into 3 branches:
#6 About 70 percent of its population of 30 million live and work in rural areas. The average life expectancy in Mozambique is 55 years of age.
Maputo, The capital
#7 Maputo is the capital of this nation and was formerly known as Lourenco Marques. Also, it is called the ”City of Acacias.” Located near the southern end of the country, Maputo is positioned within 120 km of South Africa and Swaziland borders.
#8 Maputo has a population of over 1.7 million people, with white sandy beaches and a mural showing the civil war. It has a number of landmarks, including the City Hall, Independence Square, the central market, Maputo Fortress, Maputo Railway Station, and Tunduru Gardens.
#9 It is also the most developed place in the country, with a wide selection of restaurants and hotels, shady sidewalk cafes, well-stocked supermarkets, and a lively cultural scene.
#10 Some of the scenes from the 2006 movie Blood Diamond were shot in this capital. Also, the great natural harbor of Maputo (Delagoa Bay) lies on the sheltered estuary of Rio Espirito Santo and was discovered by Vasco da Gama in 1498.
#11 A very inexpensive way to get around is by mini-bus or “Chapa.” They work like small busses and have routes that criss-cross the capital.
#12 The national flag consists of broad stripes of green, black, and yellow, separated by narrow bands of white. Extending from the hoist is a red triangle; centered on the triangle is a yellow 5-pointed star upon which is a white book over which are crossed the black silhouettes of a hoe and an AK47 rifle.
#13 Lake Malawi, also referred as Lago Niassa (meaning “lake”), is the third largest lake in Africa and the ninth largest lake in the world. It is home to more species of fish than any other lake in the world, including the famous cichlids. Because of its rich fish harvest, Lake Malawi plays a vital part in the economy.
#14 Lying within the Western Rift Valley, Lake Niassa is one of the deepest lakes in the world. The lake is fed by 14 perennial rivers, the largest being the Ruhuhu.
#15 It is the longest one covering a distance of 1,559 miles and crossing over 5 countries (Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Zambia). Its source is in the wetlands of the Mwinilunga District of north-western Zambia, close to the border where Angola, Zambia, and Congo meet.
#16 The Island of Mozambique is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Mozambique’s fastest growing tourist destinations. A bridge built in the 1960s joins the island to the mainland. This island has a permanent population of about 14,000 people and is served by nearby Lumbo Airport on the Nampula mainland.
#17 It is the highest mountain in the country and the 2nd highest mountain in Zimbabwe. Monte Binga is located right at the border between Mozambique and Zimbabwe in the Chimanimani Transfrontier Park, in the province of Manica. Its height is 8,004 feet (2,440 meters).
Gorongosa National Park
#18 It is a 4,000 square kilometer park that is located at the southern end of the Great African Rift Valley in the heart of the country. The park hosts a variety of ecosystems due to the seasonal flooding of the river, Mount Gorongosa and its waterfalls, the limestone quarries, miombo woodlands, and rainforests.
Mvumba Rock Paintings
#19 This country is home to the Mvumba Rock Paintings, rare rock paintings, which are thought to be around 8,000 years old.
#20 More than 50 percent of the population is Christian, nearly 20 percent is Islam, 10 percent is animism (the religious belief that places, objects, and creatures possess a distinct spiritual essence) and some 20 percent of the population do not have religious beliefs.
#21 The official language is Portuguese and is spoken by 50.3 percent of the population. Swahili, Sena, and Makhuwa are spoken commonly. In addition, English is taught in secondary schools and spoken by numerous political leaders and professionals.
#22 This country is home to a wide range of wildlife, including manatees, lions, elephants, aardvarks, rhinoceros, snakes, buffalos, crocodiles, hippopotamuses, giraffes, monkeys, cheetahs, leopards, bushbabies, hyenas, and panthers.
#23 The country’s economic freedom score is 46.3, making its economy the 170th freest in the 2018 Index.
#24 In 2016, the country exported an estimated US$3.4 billion worth of goods around the globe. Highest-value Mozambican exports include coke and semi-coke, electrical energy, aluminum, tobacco, titanium, natural gas, sugar, and rubies.
#25 February 2007 brought the worst flooding the nation had seen in a decade, especially along the Zambezi River where it burst its banks. Many people were displaced and lost their homes.
#26 On the scrabble board, Mozambique is the country with a one-word name which scores the highest points – 34.
#27 Mozambique has won two Olympic medals, both won by Maria de Lourdes Mutola in the women’s 800 meters, a gold in 2000 and a bronze in 1996.
References https://www.heritage.org/index/country/mozambique http://www.worldbank.org/en/country/mozambique/overview http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13890416