22 Facts About Maputo

Maputo, formerly named Lourenco Marques until 1976, is the capital of Mozambique.

Maputo is a port city, with an economy centered on commerce.

Maputo is situated on a large natural bay on the Indian Ocean, near where the rivers Tembe, Mbuluzi, Matola and Infulene converge.

Maputo City is the geographically smallest and most densely populated province in Mozambique.

Maputo is a cosmopolitan city, with Bantu, Tsonga languages being more common, Portuguese, and, to a lesser extent, Arabic, Indian, and Chinese languages and cultures present.

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Maputo is known as an aesthetically attractive, if dilapidated, city.

Maputo has a vibrant cultural scene, with many restaurants, music and performance venues, and local film industry.

Maputo's economy is centered around its port, through which much of Mozambique's imports and exports are shipped.

Several colleges and universities are located in Maputo, including Pedagogical University, Sao Tomas University, Catholic University of Mozambique, and Eduardo Mondlane University, the oldest in the country.

On 11 July 2003, the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, better known as the Maputo Protocol, was adopted in the city by the African Union.

Maputo is located on the west side of Maputo Bay, near the Estuario do Espirito Santo where the four rivers Tembe, Umbeluzi, Matola and Infulene drain.

The total area covered by the municipality of Maputo is 346 square kilometres and borders the city of Matola northeast and east, the districts of Marracuene to the north; Boane in the east and Matutuine at the south all of which are part of Maputo Province.

In 2007, the municipality of Maputo began a project to seriously consider rehabilitating the city's infrastructure.

The regeneration of the Maputo waterfront is an urban regeneration project that is being developed at site of the former annual industrial fair grounds .

Maputo's transportation needs are mainly served by minibus taxis called chapas, which transport the majority of the city's commuters.

Maputo was home to one of the first electric tramway systems in Africa, commencing in February 1904.

Main port of Maputo handled 17 million tons of cargo in 1971, at its peak.

Maputo had always been the center of attention during its formative years and this strong artistic spirit was responsible for attracting some of the world's most forward architects at the turn of the 20th century.

Maputo has been the setting for many Hollywood blockbuster movies such as The Interpreter, Blood Diamond and Ali.

Maputo is home to the Dockanema Documentary Film Festival, and international festival showcasing documentary films from around the world.

Maputo offers several options for education with pre-schools, primary, secondary schools and higher education institutions.

Maputo has several hospitals and clinics, including the city and country's largest hospital, the Hospital Central de Maputo .