BAZARUTO ISLAND

Portuguese Ilha Do Bazaruto, island, Mozambique. It is situated in the Mozambique Channel of the Indian Ocean, about 15 miles (24 km) offshore from the town of Inhassoro and 130 miles (209 km) southeast of Beira. The island is 22 miles (35 km) long and 4 miles (7 km) wide. Prior to the civil strife that followed Mozambican independence in 1975, Bazaruto was one of Africa's most important game-fishing centres. The island's inhabitants continue to fish for local consumption. Pop. (mid-1990s est.) 2,300.