Maputo (city, Mozambique)

Maputo (city, Mozambique), formerly Lourenço Marques, city, southeastern Mozambique, capital and largest community of the country, located on Delagoa Bay (an arm of the Indian Ocean). Maputo’s protected deepwater harbor serves as Mozambique's main port and as an important outlet for the landlocked countries of Zambia and Zimbabwe. An old Portuguese fortress (1787) and the ultramodern Mousinho de Albuquerque Square are major landmarks. Tourists are attracted by the fine sand beaches here. In the city are Eduardo Mondlane University (1962), the Museum of Natural History, and the National Library.

Maputo was founded in the late 18th century in a region visited (1544) by the Portuguese trader Lourenço Marques for whom it was named until the present name was adopted in 1976. It replaced Moçambique as the colonial capital of Portuguese East Africa in 1907 and continued as capital when the country achieved independence in 1975. Population (2003 estimate) 1,221,000.