Tanzania is an East African country. Located south of the equator, in the so-called Great Lakes region, it covers an area of 945 087 km2. Tanzania is bathed by the Indian Ocean to the east and borders Mozambique and Malawi to the south, Zambia to the southwest, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and Rwanda to the west, Uganda to the northwest, and Kenya to the north. Tanzanian territory also includes the islands Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia. Dar-es-Salaam is the city where the seat of government is located, but it is progressively being transferred to the city of Dodoma, seat of the legislative apparatus. The main cities in the country are Dar-es-Salaam, with 2 538 100 residents (2004), Mwanza (400 300 residents), Zanzibar (372 400 residents), Dodoma (168 500 residents) And Tanga (220 900 residents).).
It consists of a vast central plateau with an altitude of 1200 meters and extending to the north, where Mount Quilimanjaro is located, which at 5895 meters is the highest point in all of Africa. In the territory of Tanzania there are numerous lakes, very deep, whose origin is linked to the tectonic characteristics of the region. The most extensive is Lake Tanganyika, which is also the deepest freshwater lake on the continent. Other important lakes are Lake Malawi and Lake Victoria, which also baths Uganda and Kenya.
Climate
The climate is humid tropical on the coast and tropical modified by the altitude in the interior. The central zone is characterized by long periods of drought that make it difficult to cultivate the land.
Economy
The economy is based on a subsistence agriculture system. Agriculture contributes the largest share of the Gross Domestic Product. Devoid of industrial infrastructure, with the exception of a diamond mine, Tanzania’s mineral resources are of poor quality and there is no qualified labor. The United Kingdom, a former colonizing power, did not invest in the country, except for the cultivation of sisal in coastal areas. Farmers grow corn, cotton and coffee and those who are still part of nomadic tribes are dedicated to pastoralism. The islands of Zanzibar and Pemba are richer than the mainland. They have fertile soil, produce copra and coconut fiber for export and are one of the largest exporters of cloves. Tanzania’s main trading partners are the United Kingdom, Japan, India and Germany.
Environmental indicator: the value of carbon dioxide emissions has not been attributed.
Population
The population, in 2006, was 37 445 392 residents. The population density is 38.9 residents/km2. The birth and death rates are, respectively, 37.71% and 16.39%. Average life expectancy is 45.64 years. Neither the value of the Human Development Index (HDI) nor the value of the Gender-adjusted Development Index (IDG) have been attributed (2001). It is estimated that, in 2025, the population will be 59 840 000 residents. The population is spread over several ethnic-linguistic communities, with emphasis on Nyamwezi and Sukuma (26%), Swahili (9%), Haya (5%), Hehet and Bena (5%), Chagga ( 4%), the Gogo (4%) and the Macondes (4%). At the religious level, the population is divided between animists (35%), Muslims (35%) and Christians (30%). The national language is Swahili, which has contributed strongly to the country’s cultural and social cohesion. There is even a Swahili literature. English is also an official language.
History
The Arabs and Persians were the first colonizers of the territory in the 17th and 18th centuries. The interior remained unexplored until the 19th century. The first expeditions for commercial purposes were commanded by Europeans. Germany practiced a policy of direct administration. In the First World War, the English and the Germans fought over the territory. London would come to dominate the country. A sovereign state was set up on April 27, 1964 through the union of the states of the former Tanganyika and the former sultanate of Zanzibar. Mainland Tanzania (formerly Tanganyika) and island Tanzania (formerly Zanzibar) maintained separate institutions. The integration process involved the creation, in 1977, of a single party, despite the fact that the President of the Republic was elected by universal suffrage. For Tanzania democracy and rights, please check getzipcodes.
After independence, it was considered one of the poorest countries in the world.
Countryaah.com: Offers a full list of airports in the country of Tanzania, sorted by city location and acronyms.
Abbreviationfinder.org: Provides most commonly used abbreviations and initials containing the country name of Tanzania. Listed by popularity.
1UpTravel.com – Maps of Tanzania
Check out the political and shaded relief maps of this Eastern African country, bordering the Indian Ocean. View maps of Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar and Pemba Islands.
