Country Location

Tanzania is located in Eastern Africa between longitude 290 and 410 East. Latitude 10 and 120 South.

Most Northerly point: Bukoba 10 South Latitude

Most Southerly point: Mtalika 120 South latitude

Most Westerly point: Kigoma 290 East of Greenwhich

Most easterly point: Mtwara 410 East of Greenwhich

Tanzania has frontier to the following countries:

North : Kenya and Uganda

West: Rwanda, Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo

South: Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique

East: Indian Ocean

Geographical Features

Tanzania is the biggest of the East Africa countries. Has a spectacular landscape of mainly three physiographic regions namely the Islands and the coastal plains to the east; the inland saucer-shaped plateau; and the highlands. The Great Rift Valley that runs from north east of Africa through central Tanzania is another landmark that adds to the scenic view of the country. The rift valley runs to south of Tanzania spliting at Lake Nyasa; one branch runs down beyond Lake Nyasa to Mozambique; and another branch to north-west alongside Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania and western part of Uganda. The valley is dotted with unique lakes which includes Lakes Rukwa, Tanganyika, Nyasa, Kitangiri, Eyasi and Manyara. The uplands includes the famous Kipengere, Udzungwa, Matogoro, Livingstone, and the Fipa plateau forming the southern highlands. The Usambara, Pare, Meru, Kilimanjaro, the Ngorongoro Crater and the Oldonyo Lengai, all form the northern highlands. From these highlands and the central saucer plateau flow the drainage system to the Indian ocean, Atlantic ocean, Mediterranean sea and the inland drainage system.

Mountain Summits:

(metres above sea level)

Mount Kilimanjaro 5,895

Mount Meru 4,566

Mount Rungwe 2,960

Uluguru Mountains 2,648

Rubeho Mountains 2,576

Livingstone Mountains 2,521

Mbizi Mountain 2,418

Mahari Mountain 2,373

Usambara Mountains 2,300

Country Profile

Area: Total 945,000 km2

Mainland: 881,000km2

Zanzibar: 2,000 km2

Water: 62,000 km2

Forest and woodlands: 3.350 km2

Political system: Multi party democracy

Administration:

26 administrative regions (21 mainland and 5 Zanzibar), 130 administrative districts (Zanzibar has 10 and Mainland has 120 administrative districts).

Population:

According to 2002 census the population of Tanzania is 34.569.232

- 16.910.231 - female

- 17.658.911 - male

Natural Resources:

Minerals - gold, diamonds, tanzanite and various other gemstones, natural gas, iron ore, coal, spring water, phosphates, soda ash and salt.

Wildlife and Tourism:

12 National Parks, the Ngorongoro conservation Area, 13 Game reserves, 38 Game Controlled Areas: National Cultural Heritage Sites (about 120 sites)

Fisheries:

Three large lakes: Victoria, Tanganyika and Nyasa, the Indian Ocean coastline, rivers and wetlands. Potential yield of fish from natural waters is estimated to be 730,000 metric tons annually, present catch is 350,000 metric tons.

Forestry and Beekeeping Non-reserved forest-land (1,903.8 km2), forest/woodlands with national parks etc (200 km2), and Gazetted forest reserves (1,251.7 km2).

Currency:

Official currency is the Tanzania shilling or 100cents.

Tanzania Shilling exchange rate US $ 1 = T.shs 1063 (July 2002).

Capital City:

With a population of almost 300,000 (1998) Dodoma which is located at a distance of 309 km west of Dar es Salaam, is the country's political capital. Dar es Salaam is the country's commercial capital. Other big urban centres include Arusha; Moshi, Tanga and Mwanza to the north of the country, Morogoro in the east; Mbeya and Iringa, to the west. Tabora and Shinyanga are also important economic hubs in central Tanzania. Mwanza and Dar es Salaam are two cities in Tanzania so far.