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Nampula

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Nampula is a large and busy city in northern Mozambique. It serves as the capital of the Nampula Province. The city sits in the middle of the province, far from the sea. It is about 200 kilometers from the coast. You will see rolling hills and mountains all around the area. The land near the city has many plains and rocky outcrops.

Nampula Airport
Nampula Airport

Nampula acts as a major hub for the whole northern region. It connects the port of Nacala to many other countries. A road and a railway line link the city to Malawi. This helps move goods and people through Southern Africa. The city also has an international airport just 4 kilometers away.

Nampula Airport
Nampula Airport

Planes fly from here to Nairobi, Johannesburg, and Dar-es-Salaam. This makes the city a very important place for travel.

The city was founded by the Portuguese army in 1907. It later became an official city in 1956. During a war for independence, it was a key military center. After Mozambique became independent in 1975, many people moved to the city. This movement grew even more during the civil war between 1982 and 1992. Even after the wars ended, many people chose to stay in Nampula. The city grew quickly as new businesses began to arrive.

Many different kinds of people live in Nampula today. The largest group of people is the eMakhuwa. You can also meet people with roots in India, China, and Lebanon. People from Nigeria, Somalia, Europe, and Portugal also live there. The city is very diverse in its culture and religion. Most people follow Christianity or Islam, but some are Hindu.

Mahamudo-Amurane
Mahamudo-Amurane

This photo shows Mahamudo Amurane, who was a mayor of the city.

There are many places to learn and work in Nampula. The city has big universities and many different schools. One university even started a special course for eye care in 2009. By 2019, 61 students had graduated with degrees in optometry. Nampula is also a center for business and farming. It sits near the Nacala Development Corridor, which helps the economy grow. The city is a place where many different paths meet.

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File:Mahamudo-Amurane.jpg
Mahamudo-Amurane.jpg
File:Nampula Airport.jpg
Nampula Airport.jpg
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