Tanga Island | |
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Location | Tanzania, Tanga Region, Tanga District |
Nearest city | Tanga |
Coordinates | 5°3′20.29″S39°6′27.11″E / 5.0556361°S 39.1075306°E |
Length | 1.0 km (0.62 mi) |
Width | 0.2 km (0.12 mi) |
Established | 2010 |
Governing body | Marine Parks & Reserves Authority (Tanzania) |
Website | Tanga Coelacanth Marine Park |
Tanga Island [1] known during German East Africa as Toten Island in old colonial maps (Swahili Toten, adapted from German Toteninsel, meaning "Island of the Dead") is a small uninhabited and protected island situated north of the city of Tanga's harbour on Tanga Bay in Tanga Region, Tanzania. It is within the Tanga Bay. The island is located entirely with the Tanga Coelacanth Marine Park (TCMP). The island is administered by Tanzania Marine Parks and Reserves. [2] [3]
The island is a historical site that contains ruins of two Medieval Swahili mosques and tombs. [4] The current name comes from the German word for "dead bodies" alluding to the numerous graves on the island. [5] Until 1854 Toten Island was still inhabited by people. In 1884 the remaining people moved to what is present day Tanga city. [6]
Tanga is a historic city and the capital of Tanga Region. The city is the most northernly port city of Tanzania to the west of the Indian Ocean on Tanga Bay. The city has a population of 393,429 in 2022. Tanga is governed by the Tanga City Council. The city is also home to the Port of Tanga. The name Tanga means "sail" in Swahili. The city is also the capital of Tanga District.
Pangani District Council is one of eleven administrative districts of Tanga Region in Tanzania. The District covers an area of 1,756 km2 (678 sq mi). It is bordered to the north by Muheza District, to the east by Zanzibar Channel, to the south by the Chalinze District of Pwani Region, and to the west by the Handeni District. The district is comparable in size to the land area of Guadeloupe. The district seat (capital) and largest settlement in Pangani district is the town of Pangani. The district is named after the historic Pangani River. As of the 2012 census, the population was Pangani district was 54,025, making it the least populous district in Tanga Region.
Tanga Region is one of Tanzania's 31 administrative regions. The region covers an area of 26,667 km2 (10,296 sq mi). The region is comparable in size to the combined land area of the nation state of Burundi. The regional capital is the municipality of Tanga city. Located in northeast Tanzania, the region is bordered by Kenya and Kilimanjaro Region to the north; Manyara Region to the west; and Morogoro and Pwani Regions to the south. It has a coastline to the east with the Indian Ocean. According to the 2012 national census, the region had a population of 2,045,205.
The Tongoni Ruins are a 15th century Swahili ruins of a mosque and forty tombs located in Tongoni ward in Tanga District inside Tanga Region of Tanzania. The largest and possibly most significant Swahili site in Tanzania is Tongoni, which is located 25 km north of the Pangani River. Overlooking Mtangata Bay, about forty standing tombs and a Friday mosque of the "northern" style occupy a third of a hectare. People from the area continue to worship there spiritually. They bury their departed family members to the south of the historic tombs. The area was a different place four to five centuries ago. Contrary to its almost unnoticed presence today, it was a prosperous and a respected Swahili trading centre during the 15th century. Most of the ruins are still not yet been uncovered. The site is a registered National Historic Site.
Pangani is a historic town and capital of Pangani District in the Tanga Region of Tanzania. The town lies 45 km (28 mi) south of the city of Tanga, at the mouth of the Pangani River in which the town is named after. Administrately the town Pangani is situated within two wards, Pangani Mashariki and Pangani Magharibi. The town is currently the largest settlement in Pangani District and is a major tourist attraction in Tanga region and is a home to Muhembo, a Tanzanian National Historic Site.
Maziwi island officially, The Maziwe Island Marine Reserve is a unvegetated, protected island surrounded by coral reefs located about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) south east of the town of Pangani off the northern coast of Tanga Region in Tanzania. The island is administered under Mwera ward of Pangani District. However, it is currently under the Tanga Marine Reserves System. It became a nature reserve in 1975. At one time the island was larger than its present area and was well-vegetated but with the loss of its coconut trees and scrub cover, it has suffered erosion and is now sometimes completely immersed at the time of the highest tides. Green sea turtles no longer nest on the island, but it is visited by numerous sea birds. The sea contains many species of coral and over two hundred species of fish. The reserve has received little active conservation work but management is now supported by levying a small fee on tourists which is used to compensate local fishermen for loss of income.
Mafia District Council(Wilaya ya Mafia, in Swahili) is one of eight administrative districts of Pwani Region in Tanzania. It administers not only the main Mafia Island but the entire Mafia Archipelago. The District covers an area of 642.6 km2 (248.1 sq mi). The Sea of Zanj completely encircles the District. Rufiji District is located on the other side of the Mafia Channel to the west. The district is comparable in size to the land area of Saint Lucia. The town of Kilindoni serves as its administrative capital. The District is home to the largest concentration of Whale Sharks in Africa, Mafia Island Marine Park, Historic Chole Island Ruins, Kisimani Mafia and Kua Ruins; and Mlola Forest Reserve. According to the 2012 Tanzania National Census, the population of the District was 46,438.
The Tanga Coelacanth Marine Park (TCMP) is a Marine park in Tanzania, with the IUCN category II located within Tanga Region of Tanzania. The Tanga Coelacanth Marine Park (TACMP), which covers the entirety of Tanga City and all Coastal Areas from Tanga Bay and South of the Fishing Village of Kigombe, was Gazetted in 2009 by the Government of Tanzania (GoT) in recognition of the value of the Coelacanths and for their protection. Coelacanths have been spotted on Tanga Island, Mwambani Bay, Yambe Island, and Karange Island, all of which are part of the Park.
National Historic Sites of Tanzania is an official list of places in Tanzania that have been designated as National Historic Sites as per the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism of Tanzania under the Antiquities Division. The list is not complete and is currently being updated.
Mkama Ndume Ruins was a medieval Swahili settlement palace ruins located in Chake Chake District of Pemba South Region that was abandoned in the 16th Century prior to Portuguese arrival and is known for its fortification. The site is located 10 km (6.2 mi) east of the town of Chake-Chake. The settlement was ruled by a leader named Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman, who was known for his cruelty towards his subjects thus earned his infamous nickname Mkama Ndume meaning milker of men in old Swahili. The settlement ruins bear this nickname.
Yambe Island is protected, uninhabited historic island located directly east of the city of Tanga in Tanga District of Tanga Region in Tanzania. It is the largest island in Tanga region. It is located entirely with the Tanga Coelacanth Marine Park (TCMP). The island is administered by Tanzania Marine Parks and Reserves. The island is also home to medieval Swahili ruins that have yet to be excavated.
A Swahili door or Zanzibari door is a door that was developed in the Swahili coast during the Middle Ages and peaked in the 19th century. The door is usually the first and foremost key element of Swahili architecture and was the historically first item that was built before the rest of the home.
Mnarani ruins is a Swahili historic site located in Tanga Region, Tanzania.It is home to Medieval Swahili ruins that have yet to be excavated.
Kwale Island is a protected, seasonally inhabited island in the Pemba Channel under the Tanga Marine Reserves (TMRS) with the IUCN category II located inside Kwale ward inMkinga District of Tanga Region in Tanzania. The coral island, located approximately a kilometer offshore in Manza Bay, and the modern hamlet on the shoreline are both referred to as Kwale. 86.2% of Kwale Island, or 528.1 Ha, is covered with mangroves. Kwale Island and Ulenge Island are the only seasonally inhabited by islands in the marine reserve, thus the two have the most human impact. The Island has an average elevation of 7 m (23 ft).
Kendwa Island is a protected, uninhabited island in the Sea of Zanj under the Dar es Salaam Marine Reserve (DMRS) with the IUCN category II located within Kigamboni District of Dar es Salaam Region in Tanzania. The islands reserve measures around 5.30km2. The Sinda Island is to the east of the island, the Makatumbi Islands are to the north, and the Kigamboni ward of Kigamboni is to the west. The island is home to endangered coconunt crabs.
Kirui Island officially, Kirui Island Marine Reserve is a protected, uninhabited island in the Pemba Channel under the Tanga Marine Reserves (TMRS) with the IUCN category II located within Mkinga District of Tanga Region in Tanzania. The Island is the largest in Tanga and one of the largest protected marine Islands in Tanzania Mangroves are thought to cover 680 ha (ha) of the island of Kirui, with the largest mangrove area being on the north and west sides, Kigomeni mangrove being on the east coast, and Kirui South Mangrove being on the south.
The Tanga Marine Reserves System (TMRS) is a group of marine reserves in the Tanga Region of Tanzania. All TMRs, though, serve as significant sea bird breeding areas. The Tanga Marine Reserves are: Kirui Island, Maziwe Island, Ulenge Island, Kwale Island and Mwewe Island.
Ulenge Island officially, Ulenge Island Marine Reserve is a protected, seasonally habited island in the Tanga Bay of Pemba Channel under the Tanga Marine Reserves (TMRS) with the IUCN category II located within Tanga City Council of Tanga Region in Tanzania. Kwale Island and Ulenge Island are the only islands in the marine reserve that are seasonally inhabited. Of Tanga's whole marine reserves system, Ulenge Island is the most degraded. Ulenge's reefs had the lowest fish numbers and the lowest coral cover and species diversity. This is mostly because Tanga Bay and Tanga City Council are nearby, which has a greater negative human impact. Ulenge Island is nicknamed by English speakers as Bird Island due to its importance as a seabird sanctuary.
Karange Island is a small uninhabited and protected island in Mtangata Bay of Tongoni in Tanga District of Tanga Region, Tanzania. The island is located entirely with the Tanga Coelacanth Marine Park (TCMP). The island is administered by Tanzania Marine Parks and Reserves.