Unguja (also
referred to as Zanzibar Island or
simply Zanzibar,
in Ancient Greek Menuthias, Μενουθιάς -
as mentioned in The Periplus
of the Erythraean Sea) is the largest and most populated island of
the Zanzibar archipelago,
in Tanzania.
Geography
Unguja is a hilly island, about 85
kilometres (53 miles) long (north-south) and 30 kilometres (19 miles) wide
(east-west) at its widest, with an overall area of about 1,666 square
kilometres (643 square miles). It is located in the southern half of the Zanzibar Archipelago, in the Indian
Ocean, about 59
kilometres (37 mi) south of the second largest island of the
archipelago, Pemba. Unguja and mainland Tanzania are separated by the Zanzibar Channel.
Unguja is surrounded by a number of
smaller islands and islets, with only two of them, Tumbatu and Uzi, being inhabited. Other minor islands
around Unguja include Bawe, Chapwani, Changuu, Chumbe, Kizingo, Kwale, Latham, Mautani, Miwi, Mnemba, Mwana wa Mwana, Nianembe, Popo, Pungume, and Ukanga.
Politics
Unguja and the surrounding islands are
divided in three regions: Zanzibar Central/South (capital: Koani), Zanzibar North (capital: Mkokotoni), Zanzibar Urban/West (capital: Zanzibar City).
Unguja belongs to Zanzibar, which is defined by the Tanzanian Constitutionas "a part" of Tanzania with a high degree of autonomy.
The local Zanzibari government is based in Stone
Town, on the west coast
of Unguja.
Population
As of the 2012 census, the total population of Unguja was
896,721, mostly concentrated in the Zanzibar urban region. The main
settlement on the island is Zanzibar City, which serves as a capital for
Zanzibar and which includes the renowned historical city of Stone
Town as well as
other populated areas such as Michenzani. Other major settlements on Unguja
include Mbweni, Mangapwani, Chwaka, and Nungwi.
People of Unguja mostly speak kiunguja ("the language of Unguja"), which is the dialect of the Swahili language that
was used as the main model for the definition of standard Swahili.
Economy
Unguja is the island of the Zanzibar
Archipelago that has the most developed tourism industry. This accounts for a
substantial part of Unguja's economy. Agriculture (including the production
of spices such as cloves) and fishing are other relevant activities. All
along the east coast, most villages also rely on seaweed farming.