Massawa
Massawa
Mitsiwa | |
|---|---|
City | |
| Motto: Tigrinya: ሉል ቀይሕ ባሕሪ Pearl of the Red Sea | |
Massawa Location within Eritrea Massawa Location within the Horn of Africa Massawa Location within Africa | |
| Coordinates: 15°36′35″N 39°27′00″E / 15.60972°N 39.45000°E | |
| Country | Eritrea |
| Region | Semienawi Keyih Bahri Region |
| District | Massawa |
| Government | |
| • Administrator | Kidane Weldesilase |
| Area | |
• Total | 477 km2 (184 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 6 m (20 ft) |
| Population (2012) | |
• Total | 53,090 |
| • Density | 111/km2 (288/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (EAT) |
| Area code | +291 4 |
| Climate | BWh |
Massawa or Mitsiwa (/məˈsɑːwə/ mə-SAH-wə) is a port city in the Northern Red Sea region of Eritrea, located on the Red Sea at the northern end of the Gulf of Zula beside the Dahlak Archipelago. It has been a historically important port for many centuries. Massawa has been ruled or occupied by a succession of polities during its history, including the Dahlak Sultanate, the Ottoman Empire, the Khedivate of Egypt and the Kingdom of Italy.
Massawa was the capital of the Italian Colony of Eritrea until the seat of the colonial government was moved to Asmara in 1897.
Massawa has an average temperature of nearly 30 °C (86.0 °F), which is one of the highest experienced in the world, and is "one of the hottest marine coastal areas in the world."