Situated in East Africa, just south of
the equator, mainland Tanzania lies between the area of the great lakes;
Victoria, Tanganyika and Malawi - with the Indian Ocean on its' coastline
to the east. It has land borders with Uganda and Kenya to the north, Mozambique
and Malawi to the south, Zambia to the southwest and Zaire, Burundi and
Rwanda to the west.
The country lies at an altitude of over 1,000ft, apart from a coastal
strip varying in width from 10 to 40 miles. The greater part of the country
is made up of plateau averaging 3,000 to 4,500ft in height. Mountains
are grouped in various section. The Pare and Usambara ranges are in the
northeast and the Livingstone Mountains in the southwest. Kilimanjaro
(19,340ft) in the north is the highest mountain in Africa.
On the borders are three large lakes; Victoria, the second-largest freshwater
lake in the world, Tanganyika, second only to Lake Baykal as the deepest
in the world; and Lake Malawi. Lakes within Tanzania include Natron, Eyasi,
Manyara and Rukwa.
Even though three great African rivers; the Nile, the Zaire and the Zambezi,
have their origins in Tanzania, the country has few permanent rivers.
During half the year, the central plateau has no running water, but in
the rainy season flooding presents a problem.
Lowest Point: Indian Ocean 0m
Highest Point: Kilimanjaro 5,895m
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