Quirimbas Islands
{{Short description|Island group in Mozambique off the Indian Ocean}}
{{Infobox islands
| name = Quirimbas Islands
| image_name =Quirimbas Islands 2021-11-24 from ISS (ISS066-E-81982).jpg
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| image_caption =Quirimbas Islands seen from space
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| coordinates = {{coord|12|8|48|S|40|34|21|E|type:isle_region:MZ_source:nlwiki|display=inline,title}}
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| location = Indian Ocean
| waterbody =
| total_islands = 32
| major_islands = {{unbulleted list| Tekomaji Island | Rongui Island | Queramimbi Island | Ibo | Matemo | Medjumbe | Tambuzi Island| Quirimba | Metundo | Tavari Island | Quisiva | Vamizi Island | Rolas Island}}
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| country = Mozambique
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| population = 120,000
| population_as_of = 2024
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| density_km2 =16
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| languages = Swahili, Mwani and Portuguese
| ethnic_groups = Mwani and Swahili
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The Quirimbas Islands {{IPA|pt|kiˈɾĩbɐʃ|}} lie in the western Indian Ocean off northeastern Mozambique, close to Pemba, the capital of the province of Cabo Delgado. The archipelago consists of about 32 islands, including Ibo, Matemo, Medjumbe, Quirimba, Metundo, Quisiva, Vamizi Island and Rolas Island all going up to the border of the Tanzanian region of Mtwara .{{cite web|last=Allen|first=Daniel|title=Mozambique: island-hopping by dhow on the Quirimbas archipelago|url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/dec/15/mozambique-quirimbas-archipelago-ibo-island-lodge|work=The Guardian|access-date=31 May 2014}}
History
Originally home to Makonde fishing settlements, the islands' population grew around Swahili trading posts and declined under the Portuguese trading routes when it was known as the Ilhas de São Lázaro (Islands of St. Lazarus) during the 16th century. When the Portuguese started occupying cities in the islands such as Ibo, the Swahili merchants fled to other parts of the island to operate in. The Swahili merchants refused to trade with the Portuguese, in which started an attack resulting in 60 Muslim merchants casualties and property being burnt down. The island was in control by the Portuguese until Mozambique gained independence in 1975. Before independence, only four of the 32 islands were inhabited.{{cite web|last=Duncan|first=Fiona|title=Mozambique: a hide away in the Quirimbas Archipelago|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/africaandindianocean/mozambique/9605216/Mozambique-a-hide-away-in-the-Quirimbas-Archipelago.html|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=31 May 2014}} Today, many of the islands are inhabited. On May 23, 2014, a mudspill was reported off shore near the Quirimbas Islands which was caused by a drilling rig operated by Anadarko Petroleum.{{cite web|title=Mudspill in Mozambique waters|url=http://www.iol.co.za/scitech/science/environment/mudspill-in-mozambique-waters-1.1692806|website=Independent Online (South Africa)|access-date=1 June 2014}}
These islands are known for their diving sites, some up to {{Convert|400|m}} deep. The Quirimbas National Park, spanning an area of {{convert|7500|sqkm|sqmi}}, includes the 11 most southerly islands, which are partly surrounded by mangroves. The park was established in 2002 as a protected area.{{cite web
|url = http://www.allafricasafaris.com/african_vacations/south_tours/mozambique/mozambiquenationalparks/quirimbas_islands.html
|title = Quirimbas Archipelago Islands
|work = All Africa Safaris
|access-date = 2011-10-17
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120318175604/http://www.allafricasafaris.com/african_vacations/south_tours/mozambique/mozambiquenationalparks/quirimbas_islands.html
|archive-date = 2012-03-18
}}
In the early morning of 3 March 2024, militants of the Islamic State – Central Africa Province seized the island of Quirimba after clashing with local forces, killing and wounding a number of them, while forcing the remnants to flee to the nearby island of Ibo and elsewhere.[https://www.voaportugues.com/a/cabo-delgado-insurgentes-ocupam-ilha-de-quirimba-e-popula%C3%A7%C3%A3o-foge-para-pemba/7512893.html Cabo Delgado: Insurgents occupy Quirimba island and population flees to Pemba] Two days later, local sources reported a major attack launched by the same militants against the neighboring island of Ibo, successfully seizing it after fierce clashes; locals of the island accused the government and the municipal authorities of having abandoned them after the attacks.{{cite web |title=Cabo Delgado on Twitter (X) |url=https://twitter.com/DelgadoCabo/status/1765317780407009665 |via=Twitter }}{{cite web |title= TracTerrorism on Twitter (X) |url=https://twitter.com/TracTerrorism/status/1765314058394206370 |via=Twitter }}
World Heritage Status
The Quirimbas Islands are currently on the tentative list for becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site which was submitted in 2008.{{cite book|last=Briggs|first=Philip|title=Mozambique, 5th: The Bradt Travel Guide|date=2011-07-05|publisher=Bradt Travel Guides|isbn=978-1-84162-342-9|pages=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781841623429/page/323 323–352]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781841623429/page/323}}{{cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5380/|title=The Quirimbas Archipelago – UNESCO World Heritage Centre|first=UNESCO World Heritage|last=Centre|website=whc.unesco.org|access-date=25 September 2018}}
Gallery
File:Querimbo-1775.jpg|A map of the island in 1775
File:Medjumbe Island Pool Deck.jpg|The coast of Medjumbe Island
File:Ilha do Ibo-sunset-02.jpg|Beach of Ibo Island
File:Quirimbas Fisherman on dhow safari.JPG|Local fisherman on dhow safari
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5380/ The Quirimbas Archipelago – UNESCO World Heritage Centre]
{{Sister project links|voy=Quirimbas Islands}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Archipelagoes of Mozambique
Category:East African coral coast