Tanzania is a nation in eastern-Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Kenya to the north andMozambiqueto the south. It has plains along coast, a central plateau and highlands in the north and the south. The western border region lies in the Albertine Rift region (the western branch of Africa's Great Rift System) and lies along two of Africa's Great Lakes, Lake Tanganyika and Lake Malawi (Nyasa). In the north, Tanzania also takes in part of Lake Victoria, the world's second-largest freshwater lake. The highest point in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 metres), is also in the country.
Tanzania's major environmental issues include: soil degradation; deforestation; desertification; destruction of coral reefs threatens marine habitats; recent droughts affected marginal agriculture; and, wildlife threatened by illegal hunting and trade, especially for ivory. It is susceptible to flooding on the central plateau during the rainy season; and to drought.
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
Economy
Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world. The economy depends heavily on agriculture, which accounts for more than 40% of GDP, provides 85% of exports, and employs 80% of the work force. Topography and climatic conditions, however, limit cultivated crops to only 4% of the land area. Industry traditionally featured the processing of agricultural products and light consumer goods. The World Bank, the IMF, and bilateral donors have provided funds to rehabilitate Tanzania's out-of-date economic infrastructure and to alleviate poverty. Long-term growth through 2005 featured a pickup in industrial production and a substantial increase in output of minerals led by gold. Recent banking reforms have helped increase private-sector growth and investment. Continued donor assistance and solid macroeconomic policies supported real GDP growth of nearly 7% in 2007.
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