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Country Profile |
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National Symbols |
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Geography ( Climate/Vegetation/Wildlife/MainTowns ) |
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Society |
National
Symbols1.The Flag
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Flag description: Tanzania flag has four colours: Green- Golden-Black and Blue: divided diagonally by a (golden)yellow-edged black band from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is blue. |
Colours' Significance:
Black=the People Green=the
Land
Blue=the Adjoining Sea Golden=the
Mineral Wealth
2.The Emblem
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Emblem Description : The central feature of the Coat of Arms is the Warrior's Shield which bears a Golden portion on the upper part followed underneath by the United Republic flag of Green, Golden, Black and Blue; and a red portion under which are wavy bands of blue and white. |
Colours Significance:
The Golden portion represents minerals in the United Republic; the red
portion underneath the flag symbolises the fertile red soil of Africa;
while the wavy bands represent the land, sea, lakes and coastal lines
of the United Republic.
The Shield is set upon a representation of Mount Kilimanjaro. On each
side of the Shield there is an elephant tusk supported by a man on the
left (as you look at the emblem) and a woman on the right symbolising
both the theme of co-operation and gender and equality of the people
of Tanzania. At the feet of the man is a clove bush and at the feet of
the woman is a cotton bush symbolising agriculture in the Republic.
Superimposed features on the Shield are flames of a burning torch which
signifies freedom, enlightenment and knowledge; a spear signifying defence
of freedom and crossed axe and hoe being tools that the people of the
United Republic use in developing the country.
3.The Uhuru Torch
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The Uhuru Torch symbolises freedom and light. It was first lit on top of mount Kilimanjaro (5,895m) in 1961, symbolically to shine the country and across the borders to bring hope where there is despair, love where there is enmity and respect where there is hatred. Yearly there is the Uhuru Torch race, starting from different prominent places in the Republic. |
The United Republic motto: "Uhuru na Umoja" = Freedom and Unity, is
written in Kiswahili: the National Language of Tanzania.
Geography
The United Republic of Tanzania is located in the Eastern African Continent
between longitude 290 and 410. East: Latitude 10 and 120 South; Most
Northerly point: Bukoba 10South latitude; Most Southerly point: Mtalika
120South Latitude; Most Westerly point Kigoma 290East of Greenwich and
Most Easterly point: Mtwara 410East of Greenwich.
It borders on the Indian Ocean to the east, and has land borders with
eight countries: anti-clockwise from the north, Kenya 796 km, Uganda
396km, Rwanda 217km, Burundi 451km, the Democratic Republic of Congo
(across Lake Tanganyika)478km, Zambia338km, Malawi 475km and Mozambique
750km, making a total of 3900 km. The countryincludes Zanzibar (consisting
of the main island Unguja and Pemba; see below).
Area:
Total area, including inland water and Zanzibar, is 945.234 sq. km. (365,000
sq. miles), of which 886,040 sq. km is land and 62,050 sq. km is water.
The coastline is 1,424 km of which over 500 miles is of pure white sandy
and unspoiled beaches.
Area-comparative:
The area is approximately half the size of the western European countries
put together and larger than twice the size of California.
Major Lakes:
Victoria 35,000 sq. km;
Tanganyika 13,000 sq. km;
Nyasa 6,000 sq. km;
Rukwa 3,000 sq. km;
Eyasi over 1000 sq. km and other over 1000 sq. km.
Topography:
The country comprises several distinct zones: a fertile coastal belt,
the Masai Steppe and mountain ranges to the north, with Mt. Kilimanjaro
rising to 5,895m and Mount Meru 4,566m, and a high plateau in the central
and southern regions. There are over 61,000 sq. km (23,500 sq. miles)
of inland water. Unguja Island, 36km from the Mainland, is fertile, hilly,
and densely populated on the west side, low and thinly peopled in the
east.
Elevation extremes:
Lowest point: India Ocean 0m and Kilimanjaro, highest point, 5,895 m.
Land use:
Arable land: 6%; permanent crops: 1%; permanent pastures: 40%; Forest
and woodland: 40% and other 18% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land:
1,500 sq. km (1993 est.)
Maritime claims:
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm. Territorial sea: 12 nm.
Climate
Varies with geographical zones:
tropical on the coast, where it is hot and humid (rainy season March-May):
semi-temperate in the mountains (with the Short Rains(Vuli) in November-December
and the Long Rains (Masika) in February -May): and drier (Kiangazi)in
the plateau region with considerable seasonal variations in temperature.
Total rainfall increases towards the north around lake Victoria. Rainfall
is well distributed throughout the year reaching peak during the period
of March and May.
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Vegetation Lush tropical at the coast:
forest and woodland covered 46% of the land in 1990 ( a reduction of almost 6% by 1993!) : in the previous 35 years, coverage decreased by an average 0.3% p.a. The rest of the country, apart from urban areas. is savannah and bush.
Forestry and Fishing:
Yearly timber production in Tanzania in the late 1980s totalled about 24.8 million cu m (about 876 million cu ft.), more than 90% of which was used as fuel. Timber includes camphor, podo and African mahogany. The annual fish catch in the late 1980s was about 313,500 metric tons, more than three-quarters of which were caught in inland waters, especially Lake Victoria. Sardines and tuna are caught in the Indian Ocean.
Natural resources:
hydropower potential, gold, diamonds, gemstones, nickel, natural gas, coal, iron ore, phosphates, tin, mica, salt, lead, tungsten, pyrochlore, kaolin and magnesite.
Natural hazards:
tropical hazards; vulnerable to flooding on the central plateau during the rainy season.
WildlifeTanzania's national parks and game reserves cover one-seventh of the country, and include Serengeti National Park (famous for its vast migratory herds of plains animals. notably wildebeest, zebra. eland and kudu). Small bands of chimpanzees are found in the Gombe National Park along Lake Tanganyika. The steep mountain walls of Ngorongoro Park's volcanic crater have provided protection and a natural enclosure for animals in an environment of great natural beauty. Rhino and elephant are still depleted by poaching despite government protective measures.
Main Towns and their populationDar es Salaam (commercial capital - 2,497,940).
Dodoma (capital designate - 1,698,996).
Mwanza (2,942,148).
Mbeya (2,070,046).
Tanga (1,642,015)
Arusha (1,292,973).
Zanzibar Urban west (391,002),
Zanzibar North (136,953)
Zanzibar South & West (94,504)
Pemba north (137,189)
Pemba South (127,623)
[Figures from 2002 census].
Administrative divisions:
There are 26 regions ; 1. Arusha, 2. Dar es Salaam, 3. Dodoma, 4. Iringa, 5. Kagera, 6. Kigoma, 7. Kilimanjaro, 8. Lindi,9. Manyara, 10. Mara, 11. Mbeya, 12. Morogoro, 13 Mtwara, 14. Mwanza, 15. Pemba North, 16. Pemba South, 17. Pwani, 18. Rukwa, 19. Ruvuma, 20. Shinyanga, 21. Singida, 22. Tabora, 23. Tanga, 24. Zanzibar Central South, 25. Zanzibar North, 26. Zanzibar Urban West.
SocietyPopulation:
Based on 2002 Census results, Tanzania's population was 34,443,603(36,766,356 July 2005 est.), giving a rate of population growth 1988-2002 period of 2.9% pa., and 1.83% (2005 est.) Outside the urban areas, most of the country is sparsely populated. The birth rate is 38.16 births per 1,000 population (2005 est.) and death rate: 16.71 deaths per 1,000 (2005 est.). Life expectancy is 45.24 years, 44.56 for men and 45.94 for women (2005 est.).
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44.2% (male 7,637939; female 7,600,673); 15-64 years: 51.8% (male 8,539,195; female 9,318,711) and 65 years and over: 4% (male 652,727; female 694,358) (2002 population census)
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Most of the people are of Bantu origin representing 95%, with some 126 tribes, none of which exceeds 10% of the population, others are of Asian, Arab and Afro-Arab as well as European origin. The biggest African group is the Sukuma: others include Masaai, Haya, Gogo, Nyamwezi and Chagga. There are people of mix blood in the coastal area known as Swahilis as well as Asian, Arabs and European minorities.
Religion:
Traditional beliefs (30%) Islam (35%) and Christianity (35%) est.
Language:
The official language is Kiswahili, which is universally spoken, in addition to various local languages, and is the medium of instruction in all primary schools. English is second official language, the country's commercial language and also the main teaching language in all science subjects in secondary schools and higher learning institutions. Arabic is widely spoken in coastal areas and Zanzibar.
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