Zanzibar Channel

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Zanzibar Channel
Zanzibar Channel-Zanzibar- city, island, and coast (1872) (14578412270).jpg
The Zanzibar Channel in an 1872 map
Location of the Zanzibar Channel in Africa.
Location of the Zanzibar Channel in Africa.
Zanzibar Channel
Coordinates06°00′S 39°00′E / 6.000°S 39.000°E / -6.000; 39.000Coordinates: 06°00′S 39°00′E / 6.000°S 39.000°E / -6.000; 39.000
Ocean/sea sourcesIndian Ocean
Basin countriesTanzania
Max. length110 km (68 mi)
Max. width37 km (23 mi)[1]
IslandsUnguja (Zanzibar)

The Zanzibar Channel is a strait in south-eastern Africa, separating the island of Unguja (also known as Zanzibar) from mainland Tanzania. The channel is 120 km long and 29–37 km wide, with depth varying from a few dozen metres (in the centre) to a few hundred metres to the north and to the south.[2] In ancient times the overall depth of the channel has been considerably smaller (about 120 m less during the last ice age).[2]

The southern entrance to the Channel is indicated by a lighthouse located on the mainland coast on the promontory, 22 km south of Dar es Salaam.[3]

Swimming[]

In 2015, the 29 km solo swim across the Zanzibar Channel starting at the Pungume Sandbank was completed in 9 hrs 1 minute by Jean Craven (SA), Robert Dunford (Kenya), Megan Harrington Johnson (SA), Samantha Whelpton (SA) and Emil Berning (SA) [4]

References[]

  1. ^ Google Earth
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b Sediment Distribution and Transport in the Zanzibar Channel
  3. ^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Tanzania". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
  4. ^ "First ever group crossing of the Swahili Channel".


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