Description of the Coast and distinctive features Mozambique is bordered by the United Republic of Tanzania in the north and, in the South and Southwest by the Kingdom of Swaziland and the Republic of South Africa. In the West, the country is bordered by the Republics of Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The coast is characterized by a high diversity of habitats including sandy beaches, coastal dunes, coastal forests, swamp, mangroves, and estuaries. 



According to Chemane et al. (1994), the coast can be characterized into four major coastal types: 1) The Coral Coast with an area of approximately 770 km2 extending from Rovuma River in the north to the Ilhas Primeiras and Segundas (Latitude 17˚20’ S). 2) The Mangrove Coast extending 987 km from Angoche (Latitude 16o 14’S) to the Bazaruto Archipelago (Latitude 21o 10’ S). 3) The Delta Coasts which occur in the mouths of Zambezi and Save Rivers. 

4) The Parabolic Sand Dune Coast covering a distance of 850 km  in the region between Bazaruto Archipelago and  Ponta de Ouro (Longitude 26o 52’ S). 

Although there are some data on fisheries, there is a lack of data on pollution and coastal erosion processes. 

Mozambique generally has a tropical humid to sub-humid tropical climate with a relatively dry winter season (Kunder 1975). The region north of the Zambezi River is under the influence of the equatorial low pressure zone, with NE and SW monsoon influence during the southern summer (October-March) and winter (MayAugust). The central and southern Mozambique, south of Zambezi River, is influenced by the Indian Ocean subtropical anti-cyclonic system with SE trade winds (Saetre and Silva 1979). 

Most of the precipitation, about 90%, falls during summer in the period between November and  April (Kunder 1975). Rainfall is influenced by the East African Monsoon System in the north and the Indian Ocean Subtropical Anticyclone System in the south. The annual average rainfall is about 1100 mm, with about 20 to 40% year-to-year variability. 


The highest rainfall  (1200-1600 mm) occurs in central Mozambique in the transition zone between monsoon and the sub-tropical Anticyclone systems. The driest part of the coast is south of Pemba where rainfall is less than 800 mm (Kunder 1975). Southern Mozambique, under the influence of an anti-cyclonic system receives rainfall ranging from 800 to 1,000 mm per year. 

The tropical cyclones occur regularly during the late NE monsoon period. The average annual temperature is 23° C along the southern coast and 26°C along the northern coast. The average relative humidity is 69% (Kunder 1975). The north of the country has the highest temperature, with a yearly average ranging 25o-26oC in the coastal lowlands. The period of highest temperatures coincide with the period of highest rainfall. Also, the humidity is relatively higher during the NE monsoon as compared to the SW monsoon.


Biophysical Environment Of Mozambique

important. Rainfall patterns are, however, changing. There has been an increase in the frequency of extreme events such as floods and droughts in Mozambique. Heavy rainfall in the central part of the country which is low-lying causes flooding. The socio economic impacts of floods include human displacement, loss of human life and property, damage to infrastructure e.g. roads and bridges. Drought causes shortage of water, reduces agricultural production and generally causes food shortage. Both floods and droughts also cause habitat degradation and modification.

 There is lack of long term climatic data for most parts of Mozambique. There is also lack of recent meteorological data. Most of the station records are short meaning their use in predicting extreme events is limited. The accurate prediction of flooding and droughts requires long time series of data (rainfall, temperature, pressure, etc). In addition, only a few meteorological stations are currently operational in Mozambique. 

Hence, there is a need to upgrade the existing stations and to establish new ones to improve the spatial coverage. Marine and coastal geology and geomorphology The genesis of the geological units of Mozambique is related to the movement of tectonic plates. Most of the terrain consists of phanerozoics having being formed between the Pre-Cambrian and the Quaternary periods (Afonso et al. 1998). 

The Protozoic geologic era encompassed the pre-Gondwana, Gondwana and PostGondwana formations. The most important episode in the Gondwana formation was the formation of a trench between Africa and Madagascar. The expansion of the seabed which occurred during this phase was followed by marine transgression over the eastern margin of Mozambique. This transgressive episode is responsible for the sedimentary deposits which form the coast of Pemba and Maputo.

A much more stable phase occurred from the Cretaceous to the upper Eocene. The Neorifting phase occurred from the Oligocene up to the present, during which areas such as Inharime, Morrumbene, Inhaminga, Querimbas and Lacerda were formed. The main basins such as Rovuma, Save, Zambezi and Limpopo were created during the Post-Gondwana phase (Afonso et al. 1998).

The coastal region of Mozambique is characterized by lowlands that rise landward to above 200m, fifteen to 40km from the shoreline. The coastline is characterized by beaches, recent dunes and inland lagoons in the south, by mangrove forests, swampy depressions and series of low beach ridges in the central region. Small dunes alternating with cliffs are found further in the north.