[dropcap custom_class=”normal”]Tanzania is the largest country in East Africa on the Indian Ocean. It includes the spice islands of Zanzibar, Pemba, and Mafia. Bordered to the north by Uganda and Kenya; to the west by Burundi, Rwanda and Congo; and to the south by Mozambique, Zambia and Malawi. Tanzania formerly known as Tanganyika, merged with Zanzibar on April 26, 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar. Six months later, the name was changed to Tanzania. Tanzania consist of the three best-known lakes in Africa —lake Victoria in the north, lake Tanganyika in the west, and lake Nyasa in the south. Mount Kilimanjaro in the north, 19,340 ft (5,895 m), is the highest point on the continent.[/dropcap]
Facts
Official name: United Republic of Tanzania
Capital City: Dodoma (official), Dar es Salaam (commercial)
Independence: December 9, 1961
Population: 47.6 million (UN, 2012)
Currency: 1 Tanzanian shilling = 100 cents
Religion: Christianity, Islam
Country Dialing Code: +255
Life Expectancy: 58 years (men), 60 years (women) (UN)
Literacy Percent: 78
Language: English and Swahili ( official ) Kiungujo, Arabic and many local languages
Internet domain: .tz
The most expensive hardwood tree in the world is found in Tanzania- Mpingo trees (a.k.a. Africa blackwood trees).
The world’s earliest human skull was found in the Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania.
Tanzania has the largest concentration of wildlife per square kilometer, with more than 4 million wild animals and representatives of 430 species and subspecies.
The highest mountain in Africa “Mount Kilimanjaro” is found in Tanzania at 19,341 feet above sea level.
Tanzania shares national anthem with South Africa and Zimbabwe, titled “Mungu Ibariki Afrika” (God Bless Africa) and was composed by Enock Sontonga.
Tanzania is divided into 26 regions (mikoa), 21 on the mainland, 3 on Zanzibar Island and 2 on Pemba Island. These are further divided into 99 districts (wilaya)! That’s a lot of parts and pieces to divide a socialist country into. The stacks of paper must be huge.
The Coconut crab is found in Tanzania and it is the largest crab in the world (and reportedly one of the most delicious), can be found on Chumbe Island of Zanzibar.
The largest single wildlife area in Africa is the Selous Game Reserve, located in Tanzania. It is bigger than Belgium, Costa Rica, Denmark, Burundi, Israel, Lesotho and Kuwait respectively.
Source: africabridge.org