Quirimbas Islands
Encyclopedia
The Quirimbas Islands lie in the Indian Ocean
off northeastern Mozambique
, close to Pemba
, the capital of the province of Cabo Delgado. The archipelago
consists of about 27 islands, including Ibo
, Matemo
, Medjumbe
, Quirimba, Quisiva and Rolas Island.
Originally home to fishing
settlements, the islands' population grew around Arab trading post
s and thrived under the Portuguese
trading routes when it was known as the Ilhas de Sao Lazaro (Islands of St. Lazarus). Today, many of the islands are uninhabitated.
These islands are known for their high-quality diving sites, including phenomenal drop-offs, some up to 400 meters.
The Quirimbas National Park
, spanning an area of 7 500 km², includes the 11 most southerly islands, which are partly surrounded by mangrove
s. The park was established in 2002.
World Heritage Tentative List on August 20, 2008, in the Mixed (Cultural + Natural) Category.
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
off northeastern Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
, close to Pemba
Pemba, Mozambique
Pemba is a port city in Mozambique. It is the capital of the province of Cabo Delgado and lies on a peninsula in Pemba Bay.The town was founded by the Niassa Company in 1904 as Porto Amélia, after a queen of Portugal, at the peninsula's south western tip and has grown around a port. The city is...
, the capital of the province of Cabo Delgado. The archipelago
Archipelago
An archipelago , sometimes called an island group, is a chain or cluster of islands. The word archipelago is derived from the Greek ἄρχι- – arkhi- and πέλαγος – pélagos through the Italian arcipelago...
consists of about 27 islands, including Ibo
Ibo, Mozambique
Ibo is one of the Quirimbas Islands in the Indian Ocean off northern Mozambique. It is part of Cabo Delgado Province. It grew as a Muslim trading port. Vasco da Gama reportedly rested on the island in 1502...
, Matemo
Matemo Island
Matemo Island forms part of the pristine Quirimbas Islands and is located northeast of Ibo island, in northern Mozambique, about 100 km from the city of Pemba...
, Medjumbe
Medjumbe Island
Medjumbe Island is one of the Quirimbas Islands off the northern coast of Mozambique, within the Quirimbas National Park. It is privately-owned, operated as an exclusive resort.Accommodations are 13 thatched wooden chalets.The island is long and wide....
, Quirimba, Quisiva and Rolas Island.
Originally home to fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
settlements, the islands' population grew around Arab trading post
Trading post
A trading post was a place or establishment in historic Northern America where the trading of goods took place. The preferred travel route to a trading post or between trading posts, was known as a trade route....
s and thrived under the Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
trading routes when it was known as the Ilhas de Sao Lazaro (Islands of St. Lazarus). Today, many of the islands are uninhabitated.
These islands are known for their high-quality diving sites, including phenomenal drop-offs, some up to 400 meters.
The Quirimbas National Park
Quirimbas National Park
The Quirimbas National Park is a protected area in the Cabo Delgado Province of Mozambique, encompassing the southern part of the Quirimbas Islands.-Location:The park was established in June 2002...
, spanning an area of 7 500 km², includes the 11 most southerly islands, which are partly surrounded by mangrove
Mangrove
Mangroves are various kinds of trees up to medium height and shrubs that grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics – mainly between latitudes N and S...
s. The park was established in 2002.
World Heritage Status
The outstanding natural and cultural value of the islands influenced the archipelago to be put on the UNESCOUNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Tentative List on August 20, 2008, in the Mixed (Cultural + Natural) Category.