| Geography: |
| Location: |
Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Kenya
and Mozambique
|
| Area: |
Total
- 945,087 sq km
Land - 886,037 sq km
Water - 59,050 sq km
Comparative - slightly larger than twice the size of California
This
includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibar
|
| Climate: |
Varies
from tropical along the coast to temperate in highlands. |
| Terrain: |
Plains along the coast; central plateau; highlands in north,
south. |
| Elevation
Extremes: |
Indian
Ocean - 0m, Kilimanjaro - 5,895m (highest point in Africa) |
|
Population:
35,306,126
(July 2000 est)
|
| Nationality:
|
Tanzanian |
| Languages:
|
Kishwahili
or Swahili (official), Kiunguju (name for Swahili in Zanzibar),
English (official), Arabic (widely spoken in Zanzibar), many
local languages |
|
Government:
|
| Country
Name: |
United
Republic of Tanzania (long form) |
| Former
Name: |
United
Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar |
| Type: |
Republic
|
| Capital: |
Dar
es Salaam; a new capital is planned in Dodoma |
| Independence: |
April
26, 1964; Tanganyika became independent on December 9, 1961
(from U.K. administered UN trusteeship); Zanzibar became independent
on December 19, 1963 (from U.K.); Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged
to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar on April
26, 1964. Renamed the United Republic of Tanzania on October
29, 1964 |
| Flag: |
 Divided
diagonally by a yellow-edged black band from the lower hoist-side
corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower
triangle is blue.
|
|
Currency:
|
1
Tanzanian shilling (TSh) = 100 cents
|
