Sofala

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There is also Sofala, New South Wales

Sofala was the capital of the Monomotapa Kingdom actual Zimbabwe. Sofala was architecturally well constructed by the Africans. The capital Sofala was built with huge mansions with gold, stone, steels, etc. The gigantestural palaces of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe were well estalished until the invasion of the portuguese when they realized that the area of the Monomotappa Kingdom actual Zimbabwe has alreade trade relation with the China and others eastern regions.

SOFALA was a thriving east coast African harbour port at the mouth of the Sofala river at 20° 12' S. Pop. (1900), from about the year 700. The Arabs conquered it in the 1100's and strengthened its trading capacity by having, among other things, river-going dhows ply the Sofala and Sabe to ferry the gold extracted in the hinterland (mainly Zimbabwe) to the coast. Sofala lost prominenece once Beira was established to the north in 1890. Sofala Harbour was once reputed to hold reputed to hold a hundred vessels, but has silted up due to deforestation of the banks of the Sofala river and depostion of topsoil in the harbour. A Portuguese Jew, Pero de Covilhao, visited in 1489, attracted by reports of hinterland gold-mines. The Portuguese conquest of the town followed, the first governors being entitled Captains-General of Sofala. Thome Lopes accompanied Vasco da Gama to India in 1502 and left a narrative which identifies Sofala with the Biblical Ophir , though this appears unlikely.

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See also [[Sofal trade. Portugal constructed Fort San Caetano in Sofala in 1505, from stone imported from Europe, the stone being recycled in the twentieth century to build Beira's cathedral. Few ruins now survive at the site.

The Sofala Bank and Sofala Province are named for the site.