Mafia Island
Administrative map (divisions, wards, and villages)
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 Mafia
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| Geography | |
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| Coordinates | 7°51′S 39°47′E / 7.850°S 39.783°ECoordinates: 7°51′S 39°47′E / 7.850°S 39.783°E |
| Archipelago | Tanzania Mainland Archipelago |
| Area | 435 km2 (168 sq mi) |
| Length | 49 km (30.4 mi) |
| Width | 17 km (10.6 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 53 m (174 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Region | Tanzania |
| Largest settlement | Kilindoni (pop. 11,696) |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 46,850 (2012) |
Mafia Island ("Chole Shamba") is part of the Tanzanian Zanzibar Archipelago, together with Unguja, Pemba and Latham Island. As one of the six districts of the Pwani Region, Mafia Island is governed from the mainland, not from the semi-autonomous region of Zanzibar, of which it has never been considered to be a part politically.
According to the 2002 Tanzania census, the population of the Mafia District was 40,801. The economy is based on fishing, subsistence agriculture and the market in Kilindoni. The island attracts some tourists, mainly adventure scuba divers, game fishermen, and people wanting relaxation.
The Mafia archipelago consists of one large island (394 km²) and several smaller ones. Some of the smaller ones are inhabited, such as Chole Island (2 km²), with a population of 1415. Chole Bay, Mafia's protected deep-water anchorage and original harbour, is studded with islands, sandbanks and beaches. The main town is Kilindoni. The stretch of water between the deltas of the Rufiji River and the island is called Mafia Channel. The popular rumours of pygmy hippo on the island were confirmed by the Tanzania Tourist Board in 2013 because of the first documented sighting by two tourists.
Mafia Island's history goes back to the 8th century. The island once played a major role in ancient trade between the people of the East Asia and East Africa. It was a regular stop for Arab boats. On the tiny island of Chole Mjini, just offshore in Chole Bay, once stood a settlement that constituted one of the most important towns controlling trade from the silver mines of Eastern Zimbabwe, which reached the town via the old ports of Kilwa and Michangani.
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Wikipedia