.jpg) Beach on Bazaruto | |
  Bazaruto | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 21°39′18″S 35°28′21″E / 21.65500°S 35.47250°E |
| Type | Barrier island |
| Archipelago | Bazaruto Archipelago |
| Area | 110 km2 (42 sq mi) |
| Length | 31.2 km (19.39 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 90 m (300 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Province | Inhambane |
| District | Inhassoro |
Bazaruto (Portuguese pronunciation: [bazaˈɾutu]) is a barrier island in the Bazaruto Archipelago of southern Mozambique. The largest island of the archipelago, Bazaruto sits near the eastern rim of the African continental shelf, sheltering the mainland coast on the other side of Bazaruto Bay. Formed during the Pleistocene, Bazaruto's sand dunes along its eastern shore are among the tallest in the world, reaching heights up to 90 m (300 ft). Besides the dune system, the island is dotted with grasslands, salt marshes, mangrove swamps, and patches of freshwater wetland. It harbors a variety of wildlife, including blue monkeys, harnessed bushbuck, and red forest duiker. The waters around the island are a vital refuge for dugongs and sea turtles.
Occupied since the Iron Age, Bazaruto formed part of the Indian Ocean trade network for thousands of years. It fell under increasing Portuguese influence beginning in the late 16th century, and was administered under a series of mulatto landlords and chieftains. It was officially gifted to the Portuguese crown in 1721, and was loosely administered under the Prazo of Mambone. Food insecurity and frequent raids by slave traders and neighboring tribes depopulated the island by the mid-19th century. It was repopulated by the end of the century by a group of Tsonga, who form the majority of the island's population today. After Mozambique's independence and the ensuing Mozambican Civil War, many refugees settled on the island.
Bazaruto has been part of the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park since 2001. Tourism and fishing are the main local economic activities, although agriculture and ranching are also present on the island. A variety of hotels and lodges have been established on the island to cater to tourists.