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Tanzania ,
officially the United Republic of Tanzania (Swahili:
Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa bordered
by Kenya and Uganda on the north, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic
of the Congo on the west, and Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique on the south.
To the east it borders the Indian Ocean.The United Republic of Tanzania
is located in Eastern Africa between longitude 29o and 41o East, Latitude
1o and 12o South.
The country is named after Tanganyika, its mainland part, and the Zanzibar
islands off its east coast. Tanganyika united with Zanzibar in 1964, forming
the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, which later the same year
was renamed the United Republic of Tanzania.
In 1996 government offices were transferred from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma,
making Dodoma the country's political capital. Dar es Salaam remains the
principal commercial city.
Currency:
The shilingi (Swahili, English: shilling) is the currency of Tanzania,
although widespread use of U.S. dollars is accepted. It is subdivided
into 100 senti (cents in English). The Tanzanian shilling replaced the
East African shilling in 1966 at par.
Amount in the Tanzanian shilingi is written in the form of x/y, where
x is the amount above 1 shilingi, while y is the amount in senti. An equals
sign represent zero amount. For example, 50 senti is written as "=/50",
while 100 shilingi is written as "100/=".
Banknotes
In 1966, the Benki Ku Yaa Tanzania (Bank of Tanzania) introduced notes
for 5, 10, 20 and 100 shilingi (also denominated in shillings on the first
series of notes). The 5 shilingi note was replaced by a coin in 1972.
50 shilingi notes were introduced in 1985, followed by 200 shilingi in
1986, 500 shilingi in 1989 and 1000 shilingi in 1990. The 10, 20, 50 and
100 shilingi notes were replaced by coins in 1987, 1990, 1996 and 1994,
respectively. 5000 and 10,000 shilingi notes were introduced in 1995,
followed by 2000 shilingi in 2003.
Banknotes in circulation today are 500, 1000, 2000,
5000 and 10,000 shilingi
Tanzania is the biggest (land area) among the East
African countries (i.e. Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania). Tanzania has a spectacular
landscape of mainly three physiographic regions namely the Islands and
the coastal plains to the east; the inland saucer-shaped plateau; and
the highlands. The Great Rift Valley that runs from north east of Africa
through central Tanzania is another landmark that adds to the scenic view
of the country. The country has the largest concentration of wild
animals. It also has pristine sandy beaches and Africa’s highest
and snow-capped mountain, Mt. Kilimanjaro. Tanzania is home to
the world famous National Parks and Game Reserves of: Ngorongoro
Crater, Selous Game Reserve,
Gombe Stream, Tarangire, Lake
Manyara, Mikumi, Arusha, Ruaha,
Saadani, Udzungwa Mountains, and
Mkomazi Game Reserve. Other Game Reserves include: Amani, Kigosi, Lukwika-Lumesule,
Maswa, Monduli Mountains, Msangesi and Ugala.
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