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Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between
Kenya and Mozambique
Geographic coordinates: 6 00 S, 35 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 945,087 sq km
land: 886,037 sq km
water: 59,050 sq km
note: includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibar
Area - comparative: slightly larger than twice the size
of California
Land boundaries:
total: 3,402 km
border countries: Burundi 451 km, Kenya 769 km, Malawi 475
km, Mozambique 756 km, Rwanda 217 km, Uganda 396 km, Zambia 338
km
Coastline: 1,424 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: varies from tropical along coast to temperate in
highlands
Terrain: plains along coast; central plateau; highlands
in north, south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Kilimanjaro 5,895 m
Natural resources: hydropower, tin, phosphates, iron ore,
coal, diamonds, gemstones, gold, natural gas, nickel
Land use:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 40%
forests and woodland: 38%
other: 18% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,500 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: the tsetse fly; flooding on the central
plateau during the rainy season; drought
Environment - current issues: soil degradation; deforestation;
desertification; destruction of coral reefs threatens marine habitats;
recent droughts affected marginal agriculture
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: Kilimanjaro is highest point in Africa
Geography
United Republic of Tanzania, is the official name of this country.
Its population is estimated to be 24,500,000 in 1990.Tanzanias
situation, is in East Africa.It consist of an area up to 939,652
square kilometers or 362,706 square miles.
Tanzania shares its borders with, Burundi, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique,
Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.Capital of Tanzania is Dar Es
Salaam.Major towns, includes Arusha, Mwanza, Tanga and Zanzibar.
Physical: Consists of the mainland plus the major islands of Zanzibar,
Poem and Mafia.
The coast is protected by a coral reef. A large central plateau
with grasslands and mountain ranges, with Mt Kilimanjaro in the
north being the highest mountain in Africa at 5,895 meters ?,340
feet. The Great Rift Valley runs through the center of the country
and contains many lakes. In the north the country borders Lake Victoria
and in the west Lake Tanganyika.
Climate
Tanzanias climate ranges from a tropical climate with high temperatures
and humidity on the coast and islands. Average daytime temperatures
23ΊC / 73 Fahrenheit from June to September and 27Ί C 81 Fahrenheit
from December to March.
Annual rainfall is more than 1000 mm / 40 inches. On the central
plateau it is much drier. Annual rainfall 250 mm / 10 inches. On
peaks above 1,500 meters / 5,000 feet there is a semi temperate
climate with permanent snow on the highest peaks
Tanzania is a large country in eastern Africa that borders the
Indian Ocean. Most of Tanzania lies on the mainland of Africa. Several
nearby islands make up the rest of the country.
Dar es Salaam is Tanzania's capital and largest city. A new capital,
Dodoma in central Tanzania was scheduled for completion in the 1990's.
Tanzania's official name is the United Republic of Tanzania.
Shortly after independence, Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form
the nation of Tanzania in 1964. One-party rule came to an end in
1995 with the first democratic elections held in the country since
the 1970s.
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