Geography of Tanzania - Fact File

Fact File

Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Kenya and Mozambique.

Geographic coordinates: 6°00′S 35°00′E / 6°S 35°E / -6; 35

Map references: Africa

Area:
note: includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Unguja

  • total: 947,300 km²
  • land: 885,800 km²
  • water: 61,500 km²

Land boundaries:

  • total: 3,861 km
  • border countries: Burundi 451 km, Kenya 769 km, Malawi 475 km, Mozambique 756 km, Rwanda 217 km, Uganda 396 km, Zambia 338 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 459 km

Coastline: 1,424 km

Maritime claims:

  • exclusive economic zone: 200 nmi (370.4 km; 230.2 mi)
  • territorial sea: 12 nmi (22.2 km; 13.8 mi)

Terrain: plains along coast; central plateau; highlands in north, south

Elevation extremes:

  • lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
  • highest point: Mount Kilimanjaro 5,895 m

Natural resources: hydropower, tin, phosphates, iron ore, coal, diamonds, gemstones, gold, natural gas, nickel

Land use:

  • arable land: 4.23%
  • permanent crops: 1.16%
  • other: 94.61% (2005)

Irrigated land: 1,840 km² (2003)

Total renewable water resources: 91 cu km (2001)

Natural hazards:

  • flooding on the central plateau during the rainy season; drought
  • volcanism: limited volcano activity; Ol Doinyo Lengai (elev. 2,962 m) has emiited lava in recent years; other historically active volcanoes include Kieyo and Meru

Environment - current issues: soil degradation; deforestation; desertification; destruction of coral reef threatens marine habitats; recent droughts affected marginal agriculture; wildlife threatened by illegal hunting and trade, especially for ivory

Environment - international agreements:

  • party to:
    • Convention on Biological Diversity
    • United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
    • Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
    • United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa
    • Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
    • Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal
    • United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
    • Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer
    • Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, especially as Waterfowl Habitat

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