Manda (island)
| Manda | ||
|---|---|---|
| Waters | Indian Ocean | |
| Archipelago | Lamu Archipelago | |
| Geographical location | 2 ° 15 ′ S , 40 ° 56 ′ E | |
|
||
| length | 13.3 km | |
| width | 9.6 km | |
| Highest elevation | Takwa Hill 23 m |
|
Manda is an island in the Lamu archipelago in the Indian Ocean off the north coast of Kenya .
In the 9th century, the ports of Takwa and the city of Manda were known for their wealth. The island can now be reached by ferry from Lamu and has its own airport. It is separated from the mainland by the narrow Mkanda Canal, which is only 40 to 80 meters wide over long stretches .
The island was abandoned in 1430. A Chinese coin from the reign of Zheng Hes found during archaeological excavations documents a trade connection between the former residents and Asia in the early 15th century.