Editing Maputo Bay (section)

==Geography==

The bay is the northern termination of the series of lagoons which line the coast from [[Saint Lucia Bay]]. The opening is toward the northeast. The northwestern end of the bay is defined by the Ponta da Macaneta, a [[spit (landform)|spit]] with beaches facing westwards towards the [[Mozambique Channel]], and mangroves behind. The eastern side of the bay is defined by the [[Machangulo]] peninsula, which on its inner or western side affords safe anchorage. North of the peninsula is [[Inhaca Island]], and beyond it a smaller island, "Ilha dos Portugueses" (Portuguese Island), formerly known as Elephant's Island.<ref name="EB1911">{{EB1911|wstitle=Delagoa Bay|inline=1 |volume=7 |page=942}}</ref>

In spite of a bar at the entrance and a number of shallows within, Maputo Bay forms a valuable harbour, accessible to large vessels at all seasons of the year. The surrounding country is low and very unhealthy, but Inhaca island has a height of 73&nbsp;m, and was used as a sanatorium.

The [[Komati River]], also known as the Inkomati or Manhissa, enters the bay at its northern end. Three rivers, the [[Matola River|Matola]] from the north, the [[Mbuluzi River|Mbuluzi]] or Umbeluzi from the west, and the [[Tembe River|Tembe]] from the south, meet in the [[Estuário do Espírito Santo]] on the west side of the bay. The city of [[Maputo]] lies north of the estuary, and the [[Maputo–Katembe bridge]], completed in 2018, spans the estuary. The [[Maputo River]], which has its headwaters in the [[Drakensberg]], enters in the south.<ref name="EB1911"/>