Mafia Island
Island and District in Tanzania / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Mafia Island (Kisiwa cha Mafia) is an island and district of Pwani Region, Tanzania. The island is the third largest in Tanzanian ocean territory,[1] but is not administratively included within the semi-autonomous region of Zanzibar, which has been politically separate since 1890. Mafia Island forms the major part of Mafia District, one of the six administrative districts in the Pwani coastal region. The local archipelago and the main island are sometimes called Chole shamba in Swahili, hinterlands of the former maintown of Chole on Mafia Bay.[2]
Nickname: Home of the Whale Shark | |
|---|---|
 Administrative map (divisions, wards, and villages) | |
  Mafia Island Location of Mafia Island | |
| Geography | |
| Coordinates | 7°51′S 39°47′E |
| Archipelago | Mafia |
| Area | 435 km2 (168 sq mi) |
| Length | 49 km (30.4 mi) |
| Width | 17 km (10.6 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 53 m (174 ft) |
| Highest point | unnamed hill |
| Administration | |
Tanzania | |
| Region | Pwani Region |
| District | Mafia District |
| Capital city | Kilindoni |
| Largest settlement | Kilindoni (pop. 11,696) |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 46,850 (2012) |
| Ethnic groups | Rufiji, Matumbi |
| Additional information | |
| Time zone | |
The island's population is over 40,000.[3][4][5] The economy is based on fishing, subsistence agriculture and the market in Kilindoni. The island attracts some tourists, mainly scuba divers, birdwatchers, game fishermen, and people wanting relaxation.[6][7]