Gaza is a

province A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or sovereign state, state. The term derives from the ancient Roman ''Roman province, provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire ...

Mozambique Mozambique (), officially the Republic of Mozambique ( pt, Moçambique or , ; ny, Mozambiki; sw, Msumbiji; ts, Muzambhiki), is a country located in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi ...

. It has an area of 75,709 km² and a population of 1,422,460 (2017 census), which is the least populous of all the provinces of Mozambique.

Xai-Xai Xai-Xai () is a city in the south of Mozambique. Until 1975, the city was named João Belo. It is the capital of Gaza Province. As of 2007 it has a population of 116,343. History Portuguese rule Xai-Xai, formerly João Belo, developed in the e ...

is the capital of the province. Inhambane Province is to the east,

Manica Province Manica is a province of Mozambique. It has an area of 62,272 km² and a population of 1,945,994 (2017 census). The province is surrounded by Zimbabwe in the west, Tete Province in the northwest, Sofala Province in the east, Save River in t ...

to the north,

Maputo Province Maputo Province is a province of Mozambique; the province excludes the city of Maputo (which comprises a separate province). The province has an area of and a population of 1,968,906 (2017 census). Its capital is the city of Matola. Geography ...

to the south,

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

to the west, and

Zimbabwe Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and Mozam ...

to the northwest.

Geography

Most of the district lies in the basin of the

Limpopo River The Limpopo River rises in South Africa and flows generally eastward through Mozambique to the Indian Ocean. The term Limpopo is derived from Rivombo (Livombo/Lebombo), a group of Tsonga settlers led by Hosi Rivombo who settled in the mountaino ...

, which runs from northwest to southeast through the district, emptying into the

Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, covering or ~19.8% of the water on Earth's surface. It is bounded by Asia to the north, Africa to the west and Australia to the east. To the south it is bounded by th ...

near Xai-Xai. The

Changane River The Changane River () is a river in Mozambique, a tributary to the Limpopo River which it joins near the coast, just past the town of Chibuto. It forms part of the eastern boundary of Gaza Province. The Changane is the easternmost tributary of t ...

, a tributary of the Limpopo, forms part of the province's eastern boundary. The

Rio dos Elefantes The Olifants River, Lepelle, iBhalule or Obalule ( af, Olifantsrivier; pt, Rio dos Elefantes) is a river in South Africa and Mozambique, a tributary of the Limpopo River. It falls into the Drainage Area B of the Drainage basins of South Africa. ...

(Olifants River) flows into the district from the west through the

Massingir Dam Massingir Dam is a dam on the Rio dos Elefantes (Olifants or Lepelle), Gaza Province, Mozambique. It is named after the town of Massingir, in Massingir District. The Shingwedzi River flows close to the northeastern side of the reservoir and join ...

, to empty into the Limpopo. The Save River forms the northern boundary of the province. The

Limpopo railway Limpopo Railway, also called Gweru-Maputo railway, is a railway that connects the city of Maputo, Mozambique, to the city from Somabhula, in Zimbabwe. It is 900 km long, in a 1067 mm gauge.

, which connects

and

Botswana Botswana (, ), officially the Republic of Botswana ( tn, Lefatshe la Botswana, label=Setswana, ), is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Botswana is topographically flat, with approximately 70 percent of its territory being the Kalahar ...

to the port of

Maputo Maputo (), formerly named Lourenço Marques until 1976, is the Capital city, capital, and largest city of Mozambique. Located near the southern end of the country, it is within of the borders with Eswatini and South Africa. The city has a popul ...

, runs through the province, entering Zimbabwe at the border town of

Chicualacuala Chicualacuala is a town located in the province of Gaza in Mozambique. The town is better known by this unofficial name (and the name of the district to which the town belongs) than by its official toponym Vila Eduardo Mondlane. History The c ...

. The province, including the towns of Xai-Xai and Chokwe, were greatly affected by the 2000 Mozambique flood.

Limpopo National Park The Limpopo National Park ( pt, Parque Nacional do Limpopo) was born when the status of Coutada 16 Wildlife Utilisation Area in Gaza Province, Mozambique, was changed from a hunting concession to a protected area. It forms part of the Great Limpop ...

lies within the province, bounded by the Elefantes and Limpopo rivers and the South African border.

Banhine National Park Banhine National Park is a protected area in northern Gaza Province, Mozambique. The park was established on 26 June 1973. In 2013 the limits of Park were updated to better reflect the realities on the ground, particularly the human presence in th ...

lies in the east-central portion of the province. The

Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park is a 35,000 km² peace park that is in the process of being formed. It will link the Limpopo National Park (formerly known as Coutada 16) in Mozambique, Kruger National Park in South Africa, Gonarezhou Natio ...

and its associated conservation area, which is in the process of being formed, will cover the northern part of the province, including both national parks, and extend into adjacent parts of Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

Districts

The province was created on October 20, 1954, when Sul do Save District was divided into the districts of Gaza, Inhambane, and Lourenço Marques (later renamed Maputo). In 1978, Mozambique's districts were renamed provinces. Gaza Province is divided into the 11 districts of: *

Bilene Macia District Bilene Macia District is a district of Gaza Province in south-western Mozambique. Its principal town is Macia. The district is located at the south of the province, and borders with Chókwè District in the north, Xai-Xai District in the east, a ...

Chibuto District Chibuto District is a district of Gaza Province in south-western Mozambique. Its principal town is Chibuto. The district is located at the south of the province, and borders with Chigubo District in the north, Panda District of Inhambane Provin ...

Chicualacuala District Chicualacuala District (Portuguese: Distrito de Chicualacuala) is a district of Gaza Province in south-western Mozambique. It has a population of 41,638 (2011) and covers . The population density of Chicualacuala District 2.1 residents per square ...

* Chigubo District * Chókwè District *

Guijá District Guijá District is a district of Gaza Province in south-western Mozambique. The administrative center of the district is Caniçado. The district is located at the south of the province, and borders with Chigubo District in the north, Chibuto Dis ...

Mabalane District Mabalane District is a district of Gaza Province in south-western Mozambique. The administrative center of the district is Mabalane. The district is located at the center of the province, and borders with Chicualacuala District in the north, Chi ...

Manjacaze District Manjacaze District is a district of Gaza Province in southwestern Mozambique. Its principal town is Manjacaze. The district is located at the south of the province, and borders with Panda District of Inhambane Province in the north, Inharrime a ...

* Massagena District *

Massingir District Massingir District is a district of Gaza Province in southwestern Mozambique. The administrative center of the district is in Massingir. The district is located in the west of the province, and borders with Chicualacuala District in the north, M ...

Xai-Xai District Xai-Xai District is a district of Gaza Province in south-western Mozambique. The administrative center of the district is Chongoene. The district is located in the south of the province, and borders with Chibuto District in the north, Manjacaze ...

and the municipalities of: *

Chibuto Chibuto is a city located in the province of Gaza in Mozambique, about 200 km north of the capital, Maputo Maputo (), formerly named Lourenço Marques until 1976, is the capital, and largest city of Mozambique. Located near the southern ...

* Chókwè * Macia *

Manjacaze Manjacaze (''Manxakadze'') is a town in the province of Gaza, Mozambique. It serves as the administrative center of Manjacaze District. Demographics Economy The town formerly had a cashew processing plant, which was shut down in the early ...

Demographics

References

External links

*
Gaza Province official site
{{Coord, 23, 45, S, 32, 45, E, display=title Provinces of Mozambique

Geography

Districts

Demographics

See also

References

External links