Interesting Facts about Tanzania
Tanzania is a country located in eastern Africa. It shares borders with Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique. It also has a border along the Indian Ocean. Tanzania is home to approximately 43 million people with about 325,000 of those living in its capital city of Dodoma. It has a total land area of 945,203 km2 (364,898 sq mi.) making it the 31st largest country in the world and the 12th largest country in Africa.
Interesting facts about Tanzania
- Tanzania was originally known as Tanganyika until the island of Zanzibar joined with Tanganyika to become The United Republic of Tanzania on 26 April 1964.
- The official languages of Tanzania are Swahili and English, but many other native dialects are spoken as well.
- The currency of Tanzania is the Tanzanian shilling
- The first president of Tanzania was Julius Kambarage Nyerere.
- The largest city in Tanzania is Dar es Salaam, with a population of about 2.5 million. It was the capital city of Tanzania until 1974-1996.
- Tanzania is mainly an agricultural country with 75% of its exports being agricultural in nature.
- Natural gas is also mined in Tanzania and sold through the largest Tanzanian city of Dar es Salaam.
- Tanzania is the third-largest producer of gold in Africa, after South Africa and Ghana.
- The precious gemstone Tanzanite can only be found in Tanzania.
- Tanzania has a diverse landscape. It is mountainous in the northeast, hot and humid along the eastern shore and there is a large plateau in the center of the country. The country has a varied climate due to its varied landscape. Tanzania draws many tourists each year due to its beautiful beaches and national parks.
- Tanzania is home to the famous Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in the north, Selous Game Reserve and Mikumi National Park in the south and Gombe National Park in the west.
- It is also home to the highest point in Africa, Mt Kilimanjaro 5,895 m (19,341 feet). This mountain is found in north Tanzania.
- Tanzania is bordered by three of the largest lakes on the continent of Africa: Lake Victoria (the world’s second-largest freshwater lake) in the north, Lake Tanganyika (the world’s second deepest) in the west, and Lake Nyasa in the southwest.
- The population of Tanzania is approximately 62% Christian and 35% Muslim. The remaining percentage follows indigenous religions or have no religion.
- Tanzania is famous for two art forms Tingatinga and Makonde. Tingatinga is an African paintings painted with enamel paints on canvas. Makonde is hardwood sculptures.
- Football (soccer) is widely played all over the country and is the most popular sport. Other sports played in Tanzania include basketball, cricket and rugby. They have also won two track and field medals at the Olympic Games.
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