Tanzania

Tanzania

area:	945,090sq km (364,899sq mi)
population:	33,917,600
capital (population):	Dodoma (157,300)
government:	Multiparty republic
ethnic groups:	Nyamwezi and Sukuma 21%, Swahili 9%, Hehet and Bena 7%, Makonde 6%, Haya 6%
languages:	Swahili and English (both official)
religions:	Christianity (mostly Roman Catholic) 34%, Islam 33% (99% in Zanzibar), traditional beliefs and others 33%
currency:	Tanzanian shilling = 100 cents

Republic in e Africa. The United Republic of Tanzania consists of the mainland republic of Tanganyika and the island republic of Zanzibar. A narrow plain borders the Indian Ocean, and includes the largest city, Dar es Salaam. A plateau, between 900 and 1500m (2950–4900ft), dominates the interior. The capital, Dodoma, lies in the centre of Tanzania. The plateau is broken by the Great Rift Valley, the w arm of which contains Lake Tanganyika. The e arm runs through central Tanzania to meet the w arm near Lake Malawi (Nyasa). The Serengeti Plain lies on the e shore of Lake Victoria. In the ne lies Africa's highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro, at 5896m (19,344ft).

Climate and vegetation

The coastal region is hot and humid, with heavy rainfall in April and May. The plateau and mountains are much less humid. Mount Kilimanjaro is permanently snow-covered. Mangrove swamps and palm groves line the coast. The plateau is vast, open savanna grass or woodland (miombo). Tanzania's rich wildlife is protected in national parks, which cover more than 12% of the land. Only 5% of land is cultivated.

History and Politics

Dr Louis Leakey discovered 1.75 million year-old fossils of Homo habilis in Olduvai Gorge. Around 2000 years ago, Arabs, Iranians, and Chinese probably traded with coastal settlements. In 1498, Vasco da Gama became the first European to land on the Tanzanian coast. For the next 200 years, the Portuguese controlled coastal trade. In 1698, the Portuguese were expelled with the help of Omani Arabs.

During the 18th century, Zanzibar was the principal centre of the e African ivory and slave trade. In 1841, the Sultan moved his capital to Zanzibar. The interior of Tanganyika was opened up by new caravan routes bringing slaves and ivory to the coast for transshipment.

In the European scramble for Africa, Tanganyika became part of German East Africa (1887), and the Sultanate of Zanzibar became a British Protectorate (1890). Resistance to German colonial rule was fierce. The Germans established plantations, built railroads, and missionaries encouraged the spread of Christianity. During World War I, British and Belgian troops occupied German East Africa (1916), and in 1919 Tanganyika became a British mandate. The British ruled indirectly, via local leaders.

In 1961, Tanganyika became the first East African state to gain independence. Julius Nyerere was its first post-colonial president. Zanzibar gained independence in 1963, and in 1964 Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form Tanzania, although Zanzibar retained economic sovereignty. In 1967, Nyerere issued the Arusha Declaration, an outline of his self-help (ujamaa) form of socialism and egalitarianism. Despite promises of decentralization, Tanzania became a one-party state. In 1977, Tanganyika and Zanzibar's ruling parties merged to form the Party of the Revolution (CCM). In 1978, Uganda occupied n Tanzania. In 1979, Tanzanian and Ugandan rebels staged a counter-attack and overthrew the Ugandan President Idi Amin.

In 1985, Nyerere retired and Ali Hassan Mwinyi succeeded him. In 1992, Mwinyi endorsed the principle of multiparty elections. In 1995, Benjamin Mkapa became the first president to be elected in a multiparty system. In 1997, after a prolonged drought, he declared a state of famine. Mkapa was re-elected in 2000. Zanzibar witnessed violent riots in 2001.

Economy

Tanzania is one of the world's poorest countries (2000 GDP per capita, US$710). Agriculture employs 85% of the workforce, mainly at subsistence level. Tanganyika's main export crops are coffee, cotton, tea and tobacco, while Zanzibar is the world's largest producer of cloves. Diamonds and gold are the principal mineral resources.

Political map

Physical map

Websites

http://www.tanzania.go.tz