Following independence from Portugal in 1975 and the civil war that ensued, the economy of Maputo was severely damaged. Maputo's wide tree-lined streets show its Portuguese heritage. White-sand beaches and a pleasant climate made the city a popular tourist resort, but the political situation and the departure of the Portuguese virtually ended the industry. Notable institutions include the natural history museum, Eduardo Mondlane University, and the national library. Maputo is a center of the international transport system established by the Portuguese.
Rail lines link the city to Swaziland, Transvaal, and southern Zimbabwe.
The port and an international airport serve the city. Main industries include prawn fishing, the processing of sugar and cashew nuts, shipbuilding, metalworking, and petroleum processing. Maputo's name before independence, Louren o Marques, came from the Portuguese trader who first explored the area in 1544. The town developed around a Portuguese fortress completed in 1787. It followed Mo ambique as the capital of Portuguese East Africa in 1907.