Zanzibar City | |
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Municipality | |
Aerial view
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Country | Tanzania |
Zone | Zanzibar |
Region | Mjini Magharibi |
Government | |
• Type | Municipal |
Population (2002) | |
• Total | 206,292 |
Time zone | EAT (UTC+3) |
Postcode | 711xx |
Climate | Am |
Zanzibar City (or Zanzibar Town, often simply referred to as Zanzibar) is the capital and largest city of Zanzibar, in Tanzania. It is located on the west coast of Unguja, the main island of the Zanzibar Archipelago, roughly due north of Dar es Salaam across the Zanzibar Channel. It also serves as the capital of the Zanzibar Urban/West Region, and qualifies as a district, formally known as Zanzibar Urban District. In 2002 its population was 205,870.
Zanzibar City comprises two main parts, Stone Town and Ng'ambo (literally: "The Other Side"); the two areas are historically divided by a creek, now marked by a large street called Creek Road. Stone Town is the historical core of the city, former capital of the Zanzibar Sultanate; because of its unique architecture and culture, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. Ng'ambo is a much larger, modern area that developed around Stone Town after the Zanzibar Revolution, with office buildings and large apartment blocks such as those of the Michenzani neighbourhood.
The Zanzibar Urban District is administratively divided into 40 wards:
Coordinates: 6°09′54″S 39°11′56″E / 6.165°S 39.199°E