The Province of Cabo Delgado

Cabo Delgado is the home of the Makonde ethnic group originally concentrated in the Mueda plateau. They are a people with very strong, unique culture with a natural talent for wood and ivory carving. They still practice their ancestral customs such as ritual tattooing and teeth filing.

General Description

Surface area: 82,625 km2 including 4,758 km2 of inland waters.
Situation: Northeast extremity of the country

Geographical limits:

North: The Rovuma river forms the national border with the United Republic of Tanzania.
South: The Lúrio river separates Cabo Delgado from the province of Nampula.
West: (from north to south) the Lugenda,Cuambeze, Kuaca and Mewo rivers
that establish the border with the province of Niassa.
East: The Indian Ocean along a 425 km coast line.
Climate: The annual average temperature is 26º C.
Population: 1.540.000 inhabitants 51 % of which are women.

Languages:

  • Portuguese - is the official language
  • Macua, Makonde, Kimwane, Swahili, Ajaua, Macue e Ingoni

Administrative structure:

  • 16 districts
  • 56 administrative posts
  • 125 localities
  • approximately 790 villages

Major products:

  • marble
  • clay
  • Graphite
  • precious woods.

This province offers extraordinarily beautiful beaches with emerald green waters, reefs and deep Blue Ocean. The Quirimba Archipelago which was in the past a major slave trafficking centre has now become a national conservation reserve.

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