Lamu,
Town, Island and Archipelago, all of the same name, lie 2 degrees
below the Equator along Kenya's coast. The Archipelago is a chain
of islands separated from the mainland by a narrow channel bordered
with dense mangrove forest and protected from the Indian Ocean by
coral reefs and large sand dunes.
The many historical
sites are proof of the area's long and rich history which, when
combined with all the natural attractions of its tropical setting,
make Lamu a wonderful place to visit.
The naturally
protected harbuor on its northeast side led to the founding of
Lamu Town which became a centre of coastal commerce.Today, Lamu
economy is still dominated by maritime activities: shipping, fishing,
mangrove cutting and shipbuildig.
The people
of Lamu are devout followers af Islam and the town is a place
of religious pilgrimage where Muslims from all over eastern Africa
gather every year to celebrate Maulidi, the Prophet's birthday.
Lamu is remote even by Kenyan standards. There are no cars on
the island and a way life from an earlier age is still intact.
Click
here to know other informations about Lamu.
Excerpt
from "Lamu - map and guide to the Archipelago, the Island, and
the Town"
Copyrigth 1989 The Lamu Society
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