Mozambique's capital, Maputo, is the economic, political, and cultural center of the county. Its population has tripled since 1945. Other cities, such as Nampula, Beira, and Nacala, also are important commercial and transport centers. Mountains lie along the western frontier. Africa's fourth largest river, the Zambezi, divides the country in half.
Climate varies from tropical to subtropical in all areas except the high plateaus and the mountains.
Rainfall is irregular, and some districts, particularly in the south, are subject to severe droughts and floods. Although there are numerous rivers, their flow is highly variable. Life expectancy- 47 years. However, between 1986 and 1988, hundreds of thousands of Mozambicans fled conflict-torn areas of central Mozambique to neighboring countries or secure areas within the country. Although subject to the influence of Islamic coastal traders and later to European influence, the people of Mozambique largely have retained an indigenous culture based on subsistence agriculture.