Cruising to Tanzania

Background

Shortly after independence, Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form the nation of Tanzania in 1964. One-party rule came to an end in 1995 with the first democratic elections held in the country since the 1970s. Zanzibar's semi-autonomous status and popular opposition have led to two contentious elections since 1995, which the ruling party won despite international observers' claims of voting irregularities.

Geography

Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Kenya and Mozambique
Geographic coordinates: 6 00 S, 35 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 945,087 sq km

Coastline

1,424 km

Maritime claims

Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate

Varies from tropical along coast to temperate in highlands

Terrain

Plains along coast; central plateau; highlands in north, south

Elevation extremes

Lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Highest point: Kilimanjaro 5,895 m

Economy

Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world. The economy depends heavily on agriculture, which accounts for almost half of GDP, provides 85% of exports, and employs 80% of the work force. Topography and climatic conditions, however, limit cultivated crops to only 4% of the land area. Industry traditionally featured the processing of agricultural products and light consumer goods.

The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and bilateral donors have provided funds to rehabilitate Tanzania's out-of-date economic infrastructure and to alleviate poverty. Long-term growth through 2005 featured a pickup in industrial production and a substantial increase in output of minerals, led by gold. Recent banking reforms have helped increase private-sector growth and investment. Continued donor assistance and solid macroeconomic policies supported real GDP growth of more than 6% in 2005.

Transportation

Airports: 123 (2005)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 11
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 112
Pipelines: gas 29 km; oil 866 km (2004)
Railways: total: 3,690 km
narrow gauge: 969 km 1.067-m gauge; 2,721 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)
Roadways: total: 78,891 km

Waterways

Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria, and Lake Nyasa principal avenues of commerce with neighboring countries; rivers not navigable (2005)

Merchant marine

Total: 10 ships (1000 GRT or over) 25,838 GRT/33,745 DWT
By type: cargo 2, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 4
Registered in other countries: 1 (Honduras 1) (2005)

Sailing Specifics: Ports and terminals

Dar es Salaam, Mtwara, Zanzibar City

Other Sailing Destinations in the Region

Bahrain - Christmas Islands - Cocos Keeling - Comoros - Djibouti - Eritrea - India - Jordan - Kenya - Kuwait - Madagascar - Maldives - Mauritius - Mayotte - Mozambique - Oman - Pakistan - Qatar - Reunion Island - Saudi Arabia - Seychelles - Somalia - Sri Lanka - Sudan - Tanzania - United Arab Emirates - Yemen

Further Reading

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