The East African country of Tanzania takes its name from
the mainland port of Tanganyika and the islands of Zanzibar. The two
areas became one unified country in 1964 after both had gained their
independence.
Archaeologists have found some of the oldest human settlements in this area so it has been called "The Cradle of Mankind". The East African coast has long been economically strong, having participated in trade with Arabia and Persia. The first European to reach the coast was Vasco de Gama in 1498 and the Portuguese controlled the area until the early 18th century.
In 1996 Dodoma was made the official capital and all government offices were transferred there from Dar es Salaam although Dar es Salaam remains the principal commercial city.
Tanzania is divided into 26 regions, 21 on the mainland and 5 on the island of Zanzibar. The government of the Republic of Tanzania is a multiparty parliamentary democracy. The president and National Assembly members are elected by popular vote for five year terms.
The population of 39,384,000 is made up of many ethnic groups each with its own language. Swahili is considered the national language. The area of Tanzania is approximately 945,000 square kilometers, slightly larger than twice the size of California.
In the north east of the country it is mountainous and this is where Africa's highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro is located. Tanzania also is the home of Africa's largest lake, Lake Victoria, as well as world famous wildlife parks like the Serengeti National Park. The economy is based primarily on agriculture.
Web Sites
Catalog
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Databases
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