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Zanzibar lies on the east coast of Africa and consists of Unguja Island (also called Zanzibar), Pemba Island, and Mafia Island, with several surrounding islets, the biggest of which is Tumbatu, to the northwest of Unguja. The Island of Unguja is situated on latitude 6 degrees south and longitude 39.5 degrees east, and is separated from the mainland by a shallow channel 37 kilometers across at its narrowest point. Zanzibar Unguja Island is 73 kilometers from Dar-es-Salaam on the Tanzania coast and 219 kilometers from Mombasa on the Kenya coast. Unguja Island is about 86 kilometers long and 39 kilometers broad, and has an area of 3354 square kilometers. The capital of Zanzibar goes by the same name of Zanzibar Town.
Pemba Island lies about 40 kilometers to the northeast of Unguja Island, and is situated on latitude 5 degrees south and longitude 40 degrees east. Pemba has three major towns: Wete, Chake Chake and Mkoani. Pemba Island is 68 kilometers long and 22.75 kilometers wide, and has an area of 1537 square kilometers.
The combined area of the islands is 4891 square kilometers. Topographically, the island of Pemba is higher on the west and lower on the east at a general altitude of 30-60 meters. The maximum altitude is 119 meters. The Island of Zanzibar is higher in the central parts but lower and flat in the eastern and southern parts. There are striking plains, which tend to be narrow and long between the hilly areas. The seashore on all sides is about one meter above sea level. In Pemba the highway running north to south marks the water-head; the western part of the land is deeply cut while the coastline is curved.
Mafia Island is close to the Rufiji Delta, and is just a short flight from Dar es Salaam, the Selous Game Reserve or Zanzibar. The island sizes at 394km². The island was a regular stop for two thousand years for Arab and Persian dhows plying the coastal waters from the Gulf to Madagascar and Mozambique.
Mafia is in the truest sense a perfect island retreat for adventure divers, game fishermen and those seeking simple feet-up relaxation. Chole Bay, Mafia's protected deep-water anchorage, is part of a protected marine park. Its natural horseshoe shape is studded with lovely beaches.
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