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Archipelago

    Mafia Island

    Mafia, Kisiwa cha Mafia

    7°51′S 39°47′E

    Mafia Island or Chole Shamba (Kisiwa cha Mafia, in Swahili) is an island of the Mafia Archipelago located in Mafia District in the southern Pwani Region of Tanzania across the Mafia Channel.

    Mafia Island or "Chole Shamba" (Tanzania)
    Mafia Island or "Chole Shamba" (Tanzania)

    Nina R from Africa / CC BY 2.0

    Terrain

    7°51′S 39°47′E

    Terrain exaggerated for relief. Drag to look around.

    Overview

    Mafia Island or Chole Shamba (Kisiwa cha Mafia, in Swahili) is an island of the Mafia Archipelago located in Mafia District in the southern Pwani Region of Tanzania across the Mafia Channel. The island is the third largest in Tanzanian ocean territory, but is not administratively included within the semi-autonomous region of Zanzibar, which has been politically separate since 1890. Mafia Island forms the largest part of Mafia District, one of the six administrative districts in the Pwani Region. As the Mafia Archipelago's main island, it is sometimes called Chole Shamba, meaning Chole farmlands in Swahili. This is in opposition to the historic settlement of Chole Mjini (Chole town) on Chole Island inside Mafia Bay. The island's population is over 65,000. The economy is based on fishing, subsistence agriculture and the market in Kilindoni. The island attracts some tourists, mainly scuba divers, birdwatchers, game fishermen, and people seeking relaxation.

    From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Chart

    Nearest islands

    Also in Zanzibar Archipelago

    • Unguja

      1,561 km²▲ 130 m

      Major islands

    • Pemba Island

      954 km²▲ 96 m

      Major islands

    • Tumbatu

      18 km²▲ 29 m

      Minor islands

    • Fundo Island

      8.8 km²▲ 25 m

      Minor islands

    • Njao Island

      4.8 km²▲ 18 m

      Minor islands

    • Uvinje

      1.2 km²▲ 11 m

      Minor islands

    • Kokota

      0.98 km²▲ 12 m

      Minor islands

    • Unnamed island

      0.85 km²▲ 27 m

      Minor islands

    Sources

    Facts

    • Geometry, areas and high points: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Copernicus GLO-30, via Talus.
    • Talus
    • Wikidata
    • Wikipedia

    Photographs