Land of Natural Wonders

The East African country of Tanzania is known for its stunning natural features. It has the tallest peak in Africa (Mount Kilimanjaro) and the world’s largest volcano crater (Ngorongoro Crater). Along its borders with neighboring countries are three large lakes. Lake Victoria, in the north, is the second largest lake in the world. The longest rift gold and second deepest is Lake Tanganyika, in the west. Lake Nyasa is in the south.

The government of Tanzania has created several national parks to protect the country’s animals. The Serengeti National Park is the most famous. The Serengeti Plain, in the northern part of the country, is a large area of grasslands that is home to many animals. The plain stretches across the border into Kenya. It has also been home for thousands of years to a group of people called the Masai. The name Serengeti comes from a Masai word that means “endless plains.” There thousands of zebras, gnus (wildebeests), gazelles, lions, and many other animals live in large herds.
In the eastern part of the Serengeti Plain is the Olduvai Gorge. This is a narrow valley with steep sides where some of the earliest human remains have been found. Scientists have discovered that early human ancestors lived and used tools in that area rift gold more than 2 million years ago.

Several islands in the Indian Ocean are also part of the country. The island of Zanzibar is the most notable. It was once a major trading port. Many Africans were sent into slavery from there. Today many people from all over the world travel to Tanzania to see its splendid scenery and wildlife.