Geography

Tanzania is the biggest country in Eastern Africa. Its multi-faceted landscape consists of open savannahs, shadowy rain-forests and fantastic beaches.

The highest peak in Tanzania is Kilimanjaro which rises 5895 meters above sea level.

Due to the decreased amounts of precipitation the glacier on the mountain top has diminished since the 1880s.

The majority of the locals gets their income from farming and faces many problems because of the long periods of drought and the uneven periods of rain.

Lake Victoria is the biggest lake in Africa and together with the lakes Tanganyika and Nyasa they count as the biggest in Tanzania. Lake Victoria is a shallow lake, the deepest place only measures 85 meters. The beaches are often muddy which has resulted in a big problem with bilharzia. The depth of Lake Tanganyika measures at the most 1500 meters and the lake has crystal clear water. The beaches consist of cliffs and rocks.

Rift Valley was created when lava streams were pressed out through the crust of the earth as from a gigantic pressurecooker. The violent natural forces created a rift stretching 3000 kilometers through eastern Africa.

Tanzania is divided into three geographical areas: the coastal area with the islands, the plains of the uplands and the mountain areas.

The country is about twice the size of Sweden and has approximately 39 million inhabitants. In the official capital city Dodoma lives 324 000 people. It is here the parliament holds its sessions.

Until the mid-seventies the capital was the biggest city Dar es Salaam with its 3 million inhabitants. The city was founded in 1862 by the powerful sultan of Oman and the name means “the abode of peace”. Later on it became the main city of the German East Africa and named Tanganyika in the British area of mandate. The city has remained the economic and cultural centre of the country.