Short facts about the geography of Tanzania

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 land:  886,037 sq km water:  59,050 sq km note:  includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibar

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than twice the size of California

Land boundaries:

total:  3,402 km border countries:  Burundi 451 km, Kenya 769 km, Malawi 475 km, Mozambique 756 km, Rwanda 217 km, Uganda 396 km, Zambia 338 km

Coastline:

1,424 km

Maritime claims:

exclusive economic zone:  200 NM territorial sea:  12 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

Natural resources:

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

Land use:

arable land:  3% permanent crops:  1% permanent pastures:  40% forests and woodland:  38% other:  18% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land:

1,500 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards:

flooding on the central plateau during the rainy season; drought

Environment - current issues:

soil degradation; deforestation; desertification; destruction of coral reefs threatens marine habitats; recent droughts affected marginal agriculture

Environment - international agreements:

party to:  Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified:  Nuclear Test Ban

Geography - note:

Kilimanjaro is highest point in Africa

Source: World Factbook