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Location of Malindi in Kenya
Malindi, Kenya, once known as Melinde is a town on Malindi Bay at the mouth of the Galana River, lying on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya. It is 120 kilometres northeast of Mombasa. The population of Malindi is 117,735 (in 1999 census). [1] It is the capital of the Malindi District.
Tourism is the major industry in Malindi. The city is exceptionally popular among Italian tourists. Malindi is served with a domestic airport and a highway between Mombasa and Lamu. The nearly Watamu resort and Gedi Ruins (also known as Gede) are located south of Malindi. The mouth of the Sabaki River lies in northern Malindi. The Watamu and Malindi Marine National Parks form a continuous protected coastal area south of Malindi. The area shows classic examples of Swahili architecture.
Malindi, Kenya is home to an airport, and Broglio Space Port.
[edit] History
Malindi has been a Swahili settlement since the 14th century. Once rivaled only by Mombasa for dominance in this part of East Africa, Malindi has traditionally been a port city for foreign powers. In 1414, the caliph of Malindi initiated diplomatic relations with China during the voyages of the explorer Zheng He. The Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama met Malindi authorities in 1498 to sign a trade agreement and hire a guide for the voyage to India, when he erected a still extant coral pillar. In 1499 the Portuguese established a trading post in Malindi which served as a resting stop on the way to and from India. A church dates from this era. The pillar stands to this day, though there have been calls by conservationists to take care of the pillar, since soil erosion might make the pillar fall into the ocean.
Many traditional buildings survive, including the Juma Mosque and palace on the beach, a stretch popular with tourists.
- ^ "Population of Local Authorities" (with towns), Government of Kenya, 1999, webpage: GovtKenya-Population-PDF.
[edit] External links
| North Africa: |
Aguz (Souira Guedima) (1506-1525) | Alcácer Ceguer (El Qsar es Seghir) (1458-1550) | Arzila (Asilah) (1471-1550, 1577-1589) | Azamor (Azemmour) (1513-1541) | Ceuta (1415-1640) | Mazagan (El Jadida) (1485-1550, 1506-1769) | Mogador (Essaouira) (1506-1525) | Safim (Safi) (1488-1541) | Santa Cruz do Cabo de Gué (Agadir) (1505-1769) | Tangier (1471-1662) |
| Subsaharan Africa: |
Accra (1557-1578) | Angola (Portuguese West Africa) (1575-1975) | Annobón (1474-1778) | Arguin (1455-1633) | Cabinda (Portuguese Congo) (1885-1975) | Cape Verde (1642-1975) | Elmina (São Jorge da Mina) (1482-1637) | Fernando Póo (1478-1778) | Portuguese Gold Coast (1482-1642) | Portuguese Guinea 1879-1974 (Bissau 1687-1974 & Cacheu 1588-1974) | Madagascar (part) (1496-1550) | Malindi (1500-1630) | Mascarene Islands (1498-1540) | Mombassa (1593-1698, 1728-1729) | Mozambique (Portuguese East Africa) (1501-1975) | Saint Helena | Quíloa (Kilwa) (1505-1512) | Saint Laurent Islands (Madagascar) (1498-1540) | São João Baptista de Ajudá (1680-1961) | São Tomé and Príncipe 1753-1975 (São Tomé 1470-1975, Príncipe 1500-1975) | Socotra (1506-1511) | Zanzibar (1503-1698) | Ziguinchor (1645-1888) |
| West Asia: |
Bahrain (1521-1602) | Gamru (Bandar Abbas) (1506-1615) | Hormuz (Ormus) (1515-1622) | Muscat (1515-1650) |
| Indian Subcontinent: |
Ceylon (Ceilão) (1518-1658) | Laccadive Islands (1498-1545) | Maldives (1518-1521, 1558-1573) | Portuguese India (Baçaím (Vasai) 1535-1739, Bombay (Mumbai) 1534-1661, Calicut (Kozhikode) 1512-1525, Cambay (Khambhat) , Cannanore (Kannur) 1502-1663, Chaul 1521-1740, Chittagong 1528-1666, Cochim (Kochi) 1500-1663, Cranganore (Kodungallur) 1536-1662, Dadra and Nagar Haveli 1779-1954, Daman and Diu 1559-1962, Goa 1510-1962, Hughli (1579-1632), Masulipatnam (Machilipatnam) 1598-1610, Mangalore 1568-1659, Negapatam (Nagapattinam) 1507-1657, Paliacate (Pulicat) 1518-1619, Quilon (Coulão, Kollam) 1502-1661, Salsette Island 1534-1601, São Tomé de Meliapore (Saint Thomas of Mylapur) 1523-1662/1687-1749, Surat 1540-1612, Tuticorin (Thoothukudi) 1548-1658) |
| East Asia and Oceania: |
Banda Islands (1512-1621) | Flores | Macau 1553-1999 (Coloane 1864-1999, Taipa 1851-1999, Ilha Verde 1890-1999, Lapa and Montanha 1938-1941) | Makassar (1512-1665) | Malacca (Melaka) (1511-1641) | Moluccas 1512-1621 (Ambon 1576-1605, Ternate 1522-1575, Tidore 1578-1650) | Nagasaki (Decima) (1571-1639) | Portuguese Timor (East Timor) (1642-1975) |
| South America: |
Brazil (1500-1822) | Cisplatina (Uruguay) (1808-1822) | French Guiana (1809-1817) | Nova Colônia do Sacramento (1680-1777) | Upper Peru (1822) | Portuguese colonization of the Americas |
| North Atlantic: |
Azores (1432-) | Madeira (1420-) |
Coordinates: 3°13′S 40°07′E
