Zanzibar, island, lies about 6° south of the equator, in the Indian Ocean about 30 km off the East African coast. It forms part of United Republic of Tanzania. (In April 1964 Zanzibar joined with Tanganyika to form the new state of Tanzania. Within this union, Zanzibar retains its own administration for island affairs) Zanzibar extends 85 km from north to south and 43 km from east to west and has an area of about 1660 sq km. It is a low-lying coral island with a max elevation of 120 m. Pemba, it's sister island lies 30 km to the northeast. The average annual rainfall is more than 1520 mm and this has resulted in an idyllic tropical island with crystal clear seas and magnificent coral reefs. Agriculture is the main economic activity of Zanzibar. Major products include food crops, bananas, coconuts and cloves. The island once produced more than 90 percent of the world's supply of cloves, but this has dwindled to about 10 percent. The island is a popular tourist destination and the proceeds of tourism makes a major contribution to the economy. Animal life is limited to small mammals and abundant birds.

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Tanzania