Country Information on Tanzania

Terrain The mainland of Tanzania (called Tanganyika) has a low-lying coastal plain without any mayor elevations. The major part of the country is a highland plateau with an average altitude between 1,000 and 1,500 m, some of it semi-desert and the rest savannah and scattered bush. The Great Rift Valley projects from north to south, dividing Tanzania into two geographical areas. Kilimanjaro, an inactive volcano (5,895 m, Africa's highest mountain) rises in the north-east near the border with Kenya. Three of Africa's largest lakes, Lake Tanganyika, Lake Nyasa, and Lake Victoria are located on Tanzania's borders. Climate Tanzania's widely varying geography accounts for its differing climatic conditions. The altitude of the high plateau considerably tempers what would otherwise be a tropical climate. Only in the country's interior it is very hot. The coastal strip along the Indian Ocean and the offshore islands of Pemba and Zanzibar have a hot, humid, tropical climate alleviated by sea breezes. On the mountain slopes of the north-east the country enjoys an almost temperate climate all year round. During the long rainy season from March to May it rains almost every day. There is also a short rainy season from November to January with less precipitation. Fauna/Flora In Tanzania's fauna one can find nearly all of Africa's big mammals. Above all there are antelopes, zebras, elephants, hippopotami, rhinoceroses, giraffes, lions, leopards, cheetahs, and monkeys. There is a number of game reserves and national parks, among which the Serengeti National Park is the most famous. Protected areas are also the Selous Game Reserve in the south-east and the Ruaha and Ngorongoro National Parks. The latter is situated in an extinct volcano and constitutes a unique habitat for animals living in the wild. Tanzania's forests, which cover about 30% of its surface, also count among the country's riches. History/Politics Besides fossil fragments of the very earliest ancestors of Homo sapiens found in Tanzania, not much is known about the country's history up to the 7th century AD. The period between 696 and 1550 has been described as the golden age of Zandj civilization in the region. The arrival of the Portuguese resulted in the destruction of the Zandj civilization. As early as the beginning of the 15th century the Portuguese spread along the East African Coast and subsequently settled on Zanzibar, as well. From the 18th century on they were increasingly superseded by Arabs from Oman. In the mid 18th century they dared venture into the territory of the then dreaded Masai in the country's inhospitable interior, leading to an increase in slave trade. European explorers began arriving in the mid 19th century, the most famous being Stanley and Livingstone. At the beginning of the 20th century Tanzania became a German colony and in the interior, which had been explored meanwhile, railways were built in order to facilitate the transport of various goods. After World War I Germany lost all her overseas territories and the League of Nations granted the country to the British, since the island of Zanzibar had already been established as a British protectorate. Under the leadership of Julius Nyerere the Party of the African National Union of Tanganyika was founded in 1954. T he independent state of Tanzania was proclaimed in 1961 with Nyerere as the country's first president. Nyerere tried to find better organized sources of income for the scarcely industrialized country through increased nationalization. The early 1960s saw Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda linked in the economic alliance of the East African Community, which resulted in an economic boom for all three countries. However, various political differences lead to the collapse of the East African Community in 1977, leaving the Tanzanians worse off than ever. Ali Hassan Mwinyi was elected president in 1985 and started to implement a plan for economic recovery in 1986. The incorporation of Zanzibar in the early 1990s has created a new trouble spot, given increasing support for Islamic parties on the island. Tanzania had to face a massive influx of refugees during the years of civil war in Rwanda (1990-1994). Humanitarian problems in refugee camps finally led to the expulsion of the Rwandans in 1996. Major challenges for the future are continuous tribal feuds, conflicts among minorities, and an adverse economic situation. Economy Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world. The economy is heavily dependent on agriculture, which accounts for 56% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product), provides 85% of exports, and employs 90% of the work force. Topography and climatic conditions, however, limit cultivated crops to only 4% of the land area. Industry accounts for 15% of GDP and is mainly limited to processing agricultural products and a few consumer goods. Tanzania is wealthy in diamonds, besides gold and rock salt are mined. In the south there are rich deposits of hard coal and iron ore, which are, however, not exploited on a large scale. Natural gas exploration in the area around the isle of Songo Songo southeast of Dar-es-Salaam looks promising and production could start by 2002. Culture Tanzanian music is very popular in East Africa. Strong in rhythm and renowned for catchy lyrics, the country's Swahili-based sounds are kept very much alive by a thriving dance-band scene. Remmy Ongala is the country's best-known exponent. Zanzibar is known for its tradition of sung poetry. The most famous singer of these songs was Siti bint Saad, who was the first East African singer to make commercial recordings, way back in 1928.