Editing Geography of Mozambique (section)

==Physical features==
===The coast===
The coastline extends from 26° 52′ S. to 10° 40′ S., and from south to north makes a double curve with a general trend outward to the east. It has a length of {{convert|1430|mi|km|order=flip}}.

The southern coastline is characterized by sandy beaches backed by coastal dunes. The dunes can reach up to {{convert|120|m|ft|abbr=on}} in height, and older dunes are vegetated. Behind the coastal dunes are lagoons, including river estuaries, closed saline lagoons, and salt lakes.<ref>Pereira, Marcos & Litulo, Carlos & Santos, Rodrigo & Costa Leal, Miguel & Fernandes, Raquel & Tibirica, Yara & Williams, Jess & Atanassov, Boris & Carreira, Filipa & Massingue, Alice & Marques da Silva, Isabel. (2014). Mozambique marine ecosystems review. 10.13140/2.1.2092.5766.</ref> Some {{convert|40|mi|km|round=5|order=flip|abbr=on}} north of the [[South Africa]]n frontier is the deep indentation of [[Maputo Bay]] (formerly Delagoa Bay). The land then turns outward to [[Cape Correntes]], a little north of which is [[Inhambane Bay]]. Bending westward again and passing the [[Bazaruto Archipelago]] of several small islands, of which the chief is [[Bazaruto Island|Bazaruto]].

Mozambique's central coast, from Bazaruto Island north to [[Angoche Island]], is known as the [[Bight of Sofala/Swamp Coast|Bight of Sofala]] or Sofala Bay. It is also known as the Swamp Coast, and is  characterized by extensive mangrove swamps and coastal wetlands. As in the south, the coastline is generally low, and harbours are few and poor. [[Beira, Mozambique|Beira]] is the principal seaport on the central coast, with rail and highway links to the interior.

The bay has an area of {{convert|801,590|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}. The continental shelf is up to {{convert|140|km|mi|abbr=on}} wide at Beira, and is Mozambique's most important marine fishery. Several large rivers, including the [[Save River (Africa)|Save]], [[Pungwe River|Pungwe]], and [[Zambezi River|Zambezi]], create coastal estuaries and [[river delta]]s, of which the Zambezi delta is the largest.<ref>Pereira, Marcos & Litulo, Carlos & Santos, Rodrigo & Costa Leal, Miguel & Fernandes, Raquel & Tibirica, Yara & Williams, Jess & Atanassov, Boris & Carreira, Filipa & Massingue, Alice & Marques da Silva, Isabel. (2014). Mozambique marine ecosystems review. 10.13140/2.1.2092.5766.</ref> North of the Zambezi, the small coralline islands of the [[Primeiras and Segundas Archipelago]] lie parallel to the coast.

The northern coast is much indented, abounding in rocky headlands and rugged cliffs, with an almost continuous fringe of islands. On one of these islands is [[Island of Mozambique|Mozambique]], and immediately north of that port is [[Conducia Bay]]. Somewhat farther north are two large bays, [[Fernao Veloso Bay]] and [[Memba Bay]]. Nacala on Fernao  Veloso Bay is the principal seaport on the northern coast, with a rail link to [[Malawi]] and the coalfields of northwestern Mozambique. North of Fernao Veloso and Memba bays is [[Pemba Bay]], where there is commodious anchorage for heavy draught vessels. North of Pemba Bay the [[Quirimbas Islands]] lie offshore, and numerous bays and estuaries indent the coast. [[Cape Delgado]], the northernmost point on Mozambique's coast, is part of the delta of the [[Ruvuma River]], which forms Mozambique's border with [[Tanzania]].

The northern coast is part of the [[East African coral coast]], a marine ecoregion that extends along the coasts of northern Mozambique, Tanzania, and Kenya.<ref>Spalding, Mark D., Helen E. Fox, Gerald R. Allen, Nick Davidson ''et al.'' "Marine Ecoregions of the World: A Bioregionalization of Coastal and Shelf Areas". ''Bioscience'' Vol. 57 No. 7, July/August 2007, pp. 573-583.</ref> Along the northern coast the [[Mozambique Current]], which flows south between [[Madagascar]] and the continent is close to the coast and scours out all the softer material, while at the same time the [[coral]]s are building in deep waters.

A recent global remote sensing analysis suggested that there were 2,029km² of tidal flats in Mozambique, making it the 16th ranked country in terms of how much tidal flat occurs there.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Murray |first1=N.J. |last2=Phinn |first2=S.R. |last3=DeWitt |first3=M. |last4=Ferrari |first4=R. |last5=Johnston |first5=R. |last6=Lyons |first6=M.B. |last7=Clinton |first7=N. |last8=Thau |first8=D. |last9=Fuller |first9=R.A. |title=The global distribution and trajectory of tidal flats |journal=Nature |date=2019 |volume=565 |issue=7738 |pages=222–225 |doi=10.1038/s41586-018-0805-8 |pmid=30568300 |s2cid=56481043 |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-018-0805-8 |access-date=2021-08-03 |archive-date=2021-11-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124213205/https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-018-0805-8 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Orography===
Orographically the backbone of the country is the mountain chain which forms the eastern escarpment of the continental plateau. It does not present a uniformly abrupt descent to the plains, but in places, as in the lower Zambezi district, slopes gradually to the coast. The [[Lebombo Mountains]], behind Delagoa Bay, nowhere exceed {{convert|2070|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} in height. The [[Manica Plateau]], farther north between the Save and Zambezi rivers, is higher, rising towards the [[Eastern Highlands]] along the border with [[Zimbabwe]]. [[Monte Binga]] ({{convert|2440|m|ft|abbr=on|disp=or}}), on the border with Zimbabwe, is Mozambique's highest peak. [[Mount Gorongosa]] ({{convert|6550|ft|m|abbr=on|disp=or|order=flip}}) lies north-east of the Manica Plateau, and is, like it, of granitic formation. Gorongosa, rising isolated with precipitous outer slopes, has been likened in its aspect to a frowning citadel. East of Gorongosa a [[graben]] valley extends from the Zambezi to Pungwe Bay, the southern extension of the [[African Rift Valley]]. The [[Cheringoma Plateau]] lies east of the graben, sloping gently towards the coast.

The chief mountain range lies north of the Zambezi, and east of [[Lake Chilwa]], namely, the [[Namuli Mountains]], in which Namuli Peak rises to {{convert|8860|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}}, and Molisani, Mruli and Mresi attain altitudes of {{convert|6500|to|8000|ft|m|order=flip|abbr=on}} These mountains are covered with magnificent forests. Farther north the river basins are divided by well-marked ranges with heights of {{convert|3000|ft|m|order=flip|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} and over. Near the south-east shore of [[Lake Malawi]] there is a high range ({{convert|5000|to|6000|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip|disp=or}}) with an abrupt descent to the lake — some {{convert|3000|ft|m|sigfig=1|abbr=on|order=flip}} in {{convert|6|mi|km|0|abbr=on|order=flip}}. The country between Malawi and Ibo is remarkable for the number of fantastically-shaped granite peaks, or [[inselberg]]s, which rise from the plateau. 

The plateau lands west of the escarpment are of moderate elevation — perhaps averaging {{convert|2000|to|2500|ft|m|round=50|order=flip|abbr=on}}. It is, however, only along the Zambezi and north of that river that Mozambique's territory reaches to the continental plateau. This northern plain has been categorised by the [[World Wildlife Fund]] as part of the [[Eastern miombo woodlands]] [[ecoregion]].

===Rivers===
{{see also|List of rivers of Mozambique}}
Besides the Zambezi, the most considerable river in Mozambique is the [[Limpopo River|Limpopo]] which enters the [[Indian Ocean]] about {{convert|100|mi|km|-1|order=flip|abbr=on}} north of Maputo Bay. The other Mozambican rivers with considerable drainage areas are the [[Komati River|Komati]], [[Save River (Africa)|Save]], [[Buzi River (Mozambique)|Buzi]], and [[Pungwe River|Pungwe]] south of the Zambezi, and the [[Licungo River|Licungo]] (Likungo), [[Ligonha River|Ligonha]], [[Lúrio River|Lúrio]], [[Montepuez River|Montepuez]] (Montepuesi or Mtepwesi), [[Messalo River|Messalo]] (or Msalu), and [[Ruvuma River|Ruvuma]] (or Rovuma) with its affluent the [[Lugenda River|Lugenda]] (or Lujenda), north of the Zambezi.

The [[Save River (Africa)|Save]] (or Sabi) rises in [[Zimbabwe]] at an elevation of over {{convert|3000|ft|m|sigfig=1|order=flip|abbr=on}}, and after flowing south for over {{convert|200|mi|km|order=flip|abbr=on}} turns east and pierces the mountains some {{convert|170|mi|km|order=flip|abbr=on}} from the coast, being joined near the Zimbabwe-Mozambique frontier by the Lundi. Cataracts entirely prevent navigation above this point.
Below the Lundi confluence the bed of the Save becomes considerably broader, varying from {{convert|1/2|to|2|mi|km|order=flip|0|abbr=on}}. In the rainy season the Save is a large stream and even in the "dries" it can be navigated from its mouth by shallow draught steamers for over {{convert|150|mi|km|order=flip|abbr=on}}. Its general direction through Mozambique is east by north. At its mouth it forms a delta {{convert|60|mi|km|-1|order=flip|abbr=on}} in extent.

The [[Buzi River (Mozambique)|Buzi]] ({{convert|220|mi|km|order=flip|abbr=on|disp=or}}) and [[Pungwe River|Pungwe]] ({{convert|180|mi|km|order=flip|abbr=on|disp=or}}) are streams north of and similar in character to the Save. They both rise in the [[Eastern Highlands|Manica Highlands]] and enter the ocean in a large estuary, their mouths {{convert|1|to|2|mi|km|round=0.5|abbr=on|order=flip}} apart. The lower reaches of both streams are navigable, the Buzi for {{convert|25|mi|km|order=flip|abbr=on}}, the Pungwe for about {{convert|2|mi|km|0|order=flip|abbr=on}}. The port of [[Beira, Mozambique|Beira]] is at the mouth of the Pungwe.

Of the north-Zambezi streams the [[Licungo River|Licungo]], rising in the hills south-east of Lake Chilwa, flows south and enters the ocean not far north of [[Quelimane]]. The Lúrio, rising in the Namuli Mountains, flows north-east, having a course of some {{convert|200|mi|km|order=flip|abbr=on}}. The Montepurez and the Messalo drain the country between the Lúrio and Ruvuma basins. Their banks are in general well-defined and the wet season rise seems fairly constant.

===Somali Plate===
Geologists have divided the Phanerozoic era of [[Geology of Mozambique|Mozambique's geology]] into the Karoo and post-Karoo era. This terminology is mostly used pertaining to studies of the structural and stratigraphic composition of rocks in the Zambezi valley.<ref>Nairn, Alan EM, Ian Lerche, and James E. Iliffe. "Geology, basin analysis, and hydrocarbon potential of Mozambique and the Mozambique Channel." Earth-Science Reviews 30.1-2 (1991): 81-123.</ref> Mozambique entirely lies within the [[Somali Plate]].<ref>Emerick, C. M., and R. A. Duncan. "Age progressive volcanism in the Comores Archipelago, western Indian Ocean and implications for Somali plate tectonics." Earth and Planetary Science Letters 60.3 (1982): 415-428.</ref>