Tanzania

Government
Republic.

Geography
Tanzania is in East Africa on the Indian Ocean. Tanzania contains three of Africa’s best known lakes—Victoria in the north, Tanganyika in the west, and Nyasa in the south. Mount Kilimanjaro in the north, 19,340 ft (5,895 m), is the highest point on the continent. The island of Zanzibar is separated from the mainland by a 22-mile channel.

 Historical Background
 Shortly after achieving independence from Britain in the early 1960s, 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.

Name

United Republic of Tanzania

Capital

Dodoma

Government 

Republic-President Jakaya Kikwete-Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda

Area

Total 945,203 km2 (31st) 364,898 sq mi    

Population

2010 estimate 42,746,620[2] (31th)-2002 census 34,443,603

Currency

Tanzanian shilling (TZS)