Maputo

views updated May 17 2018

Maputo (Lourenço Marques) Capital and chief port of Mozambique, on Maputo Bay, s Mozambique. It was visited by the Portuguese in 1502, and was made the capital of Portuguese East Africa in 1907, being known as Lourenço Marques until 1976. It is linked by rail to South Africa, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe, and is a popular resort area. Industries: footwear, textiles, rubber. Pop. (1997 est.) 989,386.