Unguja
Nickname: Zanzibar Island | |
|---|---|
 Unguja | |
  Unguja Location in Tanzania | |
| Geography | |
| Coordinates | 6°08′S39°20′E/ 6.133°S 39.333°E |
| Archipelago | Zanzibar Archipelago |
| Area | 1,666 km2(643 sq mi) |
| Length | 85 km (52.8 mi) |
| Width | 30 km (19 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 195 m (640 ft) |
| Highest point | Unnamed point in theKoanichain |
| Administration | |
| Region | Zanzibar |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 896,721 (2012) |
Unguja(also referred to as "Zanzibar Island" or simply "Zanzibar", inAncient Greek:Μενουθιάς,romanized:Menuthias– as mentioned in ThePeriplus of the Erythraean Sea) is the largest and most populated island of theZanzibararchipelago, inTanzania.
History
[edit]Geography
[edit]Unguja is a hilly island, about 85 kilometres (53 miles) long (north-south) and 30 kilometres (19 miles) wide (east-west) at its widest, with an overall area of about 1,666 square kilometres (643 square miles).[1]It is located in the northern half of theZanzibar Archipelago,in theIndian Ocean,about 59 kilometres (37 mi) south of the second largest island of the archipelago,Pemba.Unguja and mainlandTanzaniaare separated by theZanzibar Channel.
Unguja is surrounded by a number of smaller islands and islets, with only two of them,TumbatuandUzi,being inhabited. Other minor islands around Unguja includeBawe,Chapwani,Changuu,Chumbe,Kizingo,Kwale,Latham,Mautani,Miwi,Mnemba,Mwana wa Mwana,Nianembe,Popo,Pungume,andUkanga.[citation needed]
Politics
[edit]Unguja and the surrounding islands are divided into threeregions:
- Zanzibar Central/ South(capital:Koani),
- Zanzibar North(capital:Mkokotoni) and
- Zanzibar Urban/ West(capital:Zanzibar City).
Unguja belongs toZanzibar,which is defined by theTanzanian Constitutionas "a part" ofTanzaniawith a high degree of autonomy. The local Zanzibari government is based inStone Town,on the west coast of Unguja.[citation needed]
Population
[edit]As of the 2012census,the total population of Unguja was 896,721, mostly concentrated in the Zanzibar urban region.[2]The main settlement on the island isZanzibar City,which serves as a capital for Zanzibar and which includes the renowned historical city ofStone Townas well as other populated areas such asMichenzani.Other major settlements on Unguja includeMbweni,Mangapwani,Chwaka,andNungwi.
People of Unguja mostly speakkiunguja( "the language of Unguja" ), which is thedialectof theSwahili languagethat was used as the main model for the definition of standard Swahili.[3]
Economy
[edit]
Unguja is the island of the Zanzibar Archipelago that has the most developedtourism industry.This accounts for a substantial part of Unguja's economy. Agriculture (including the production ofspicessuch ascloves) andfishingare other relevant activities. All along the east coast, most villages also rely onseaweed farming.[citation needed]
Ecology
[edit]Notable mammal species on the island include theZanzibar servaline genet,African palm civet,andZanzibar red colobus.[citation needed]In June 2018, aleopardwas caught on camera here, despite previously being considered extinct in Zanzibar for the past 25 years.[4][5]
References
[edit]- ^Zanzibar (2007).Zanzibar strategy for growth and reduction of poverty (ZSGRP).Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar. p. 2.Retrieved15 December2011.
- ^"Population Distribution by Administrative Units, United Republic of Tanzania"(PDF).2013. p. 2. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2013-05-02.
- ^Kiunguja
- ^Li, Joanna (2018-06-07)."Zanzibar Leopard Captured on Camera, Despite Being Declared Extinct".Inside Edition.Retrieved2018-08-16.
- ^Seaburn, Paul (2018-06-12)."Extinct 'Evil' Zanzibar Leopard Seen Alive in Tanzania".Mysterious Universe.Retrieved2019-06-26.
External links
[edit]
Unguja
(Zanzibar Island).
| National | |
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| Other | |
