Nacala Maiaia Cidade de Nacala | |
|---|---|
 The beach at Nacala | |
| Nickname: Nacala-Porto | |
  Nacala | |
| Coordinates:14°27′S40°40′E / 14.450°S 40.667°E /-14.450; 40.667 | |
| Country |  Mozambique |
| Provinces | Nampula Province |
| District | Nacala-porto |
| Government | |
| • Type | Democratico |
| • Presidente do Municipio | Raul Novinte |
| Population (2017 census) | |
• Total | 225,034 |
| Climate | Aw |
| Website | https://www.facebook.com/CMCNacalaPorto |
Nacala, also known asCidade de Nacala orNacala-Porto is acity on the northern coast ofMozambique. Located in the southwestern indentation of innerFernao Veloso Bay, it is the deepest naturalport on the east coast of Africa. Nacala serves as the terminal for theNacala railway, a rail line to the landlockedMalawi. South of Nacala isMozambique Island, at one time the capital of Mozambique and now aWorld Heritage Site.
Nacala was founded as a little town and developed as a deep waters port and an industrial, agricultural and exporting centre during the last period of the Portuguese rule of the territory which ended in the mid-1970s. Among its major industries werecement,sisal andcashew. Other important employers were the seaport, its small modern hospital, and services (banking, insurance and administration).[1]
Nacala is site of one of threecement works inMozambique.
Nacala is the terminal of theNacala railway that connects to the Central East African Railway (CEAR) ofMalawi. The railway system was managed by theRailroad Development Corporation until September 2008 when it was sold to a group of Mozambican investors.[2]
It is the location of the deep water port ofPort of Nacala. A coal terminal, operated by the Port of Nacala, is located in the town ofNacala-a-Velha on the opposite side of the bay from Nacala.
Nacala Airport is a former airbase that has been converted into an international airport.
| Year (census) | Population[3] |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 158,248 |
| 2007 | 206,449 |
| 2017 | 225,034 |
| Climate data for Nacala | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 32 (89) | 32 (89) | 32 (89) | 32 (89) | 31 (88) | 30 (86) | 29 (85) | 30 (86) | 31 (87) | 32 (89) | 32 (89) | 32 (89) | 31 (88) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 19 (67) | 19 (67) | 19 (67) | 18 (65) | 17 (63) | 16 (61) | 16 (60) | 15 (59) | 16 (61) | 18 (64) | 18 (65) | 19 (66) | 18 (64) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 190 (7.6) | 190 (7.6) | 170 (6.7) | 56 (2.2) | 13 (0.5) | 10 (0.4) | 2.5 (0.1) | 7.6 (0.3) | 5.1 (0.2) | 5.1 (0.2) | 33 (1.3) | 120 (4.8) | 810 (31.8) |
| Source: Weatherbase[4] | |||||||||||||
The town is also known for itsbeaches and scuba diving.
There is another town in Mozambique that contains the name Nacala, it is calledNacala-a-Velha ("The Old Nacala"), just across the bay (c. 30km by road).
14°32′34″S40°40′22″E / 14.54278°S 40.67278°E /-14.54278; 40.67278