Tanzania mainland celebrated 52 years of independence from Britain on December 9, 2013. Formerly known as Tanganyika, the mainland united [1] with the island of Zanzibar on April 26, 1964 to form Tanzania.
In celebrating 52 years of independence, some users on Twitter started the hashtag #52ThingsAboutTanzania [2] to share interesting facts and figures about the country:
Julius Nyerere the “Father of Tanzania” translated Shakespeare's “The Merchant of Venice & Julius Ceaser” to Swahili. #52ThingsAboutTanzania [3]
— t a n z a n i t e. (@CecyBellaKnows) December 9, 2013 [4]
Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, and the highest free-standing mountain in the world, in Moshi, Tanzania. Photo released by Muhammad Mahdi Karim (www.micro2macro.net) under GNU Free Documentation License.
The world tallest free standing mountain is Mount Kilimanjaro #52ThingsAboutTanzania [3]
— Romario Siwila (@deveraux1995) December 9, 2013 [5]
Disney's Global hit “The Lion King” was inspired by Tanzania's Serengeti national park. #52ThingsAboutTanzania [3]
— Uncle Fafi (@Tanganyikan) December 9, 2013 [6]
Tanzanite [a rare gemstone found in Tanzania] is named after the East African state Tanzania where it originates. The name was coined by Tiffany's. #52ThingsAboutTanzania [3]
— t a n z a n i t e. (@CecyBellaKnows) December 9, 2013 [7]
Coconut crab, the largest land-living terrestial crab in the world,
Photo released under Creative Commons by Flickr user Drew Avery.
Zanzibar, Tanzania is the home of the coconut crab. Z largest crab in z world (& reportedly 1 of z most delicious) #52ThingsAboutTanzania [3]
— KijanaMokiwa (@stevpm) December 9, 2013 [8]
KiSwahili originated in Tanzania & is now spoken in 10 different countries including the Comoros Islands. #52ThingsAboutTanzania [3]
— t a n z a n i t e. (@CecyBellaKnows) December 9, 2013 [9]
Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the seven natural wonders of Africa, located in Arusha, Tanzania. Photo released by Thomas Huston under GNU Free Documentation License.
The extinct Ngorongoro Crater, in Tanzania, is the largest complete crater in the world. #52ThingsAboutTanzania [3]
— Tanzania's OWN (@AbelavsAK) December 9, 2013 [10]
Tanzania has the second Largest Mountain in the world(kilimanjaro) #52ThingsAboutTanzania [3]
— SwAg-HilI (@Daresalaam101) December 9, 2013 [11]
The currency of Tanzania is the Tanzanian shilling #52ThingsAboutTanzania [3]
— Tanzania's OWN (@AbelavsAK) December 9, 2013 [12]
Lake Manyara National Park, in Tanzania, is home to the world’s only tree-climbing lions. #52ThingsAboutTanzania [3]
— Tanzania's OWN (@AbelavsAK) December 9, 2013 [13]
Tree climbing lion in Tanzania. Photo released under Creative Commons by Flickr user Tracey Spencer.
“@AbelavsAK [14]: The oldest human skull that has EVER been found on earth was discovered in Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania #52ThingsAboutTanzania [3]“
— Grace Cherry (@Cherry_fab) December 9, 2013 [15]
The Amani Nature Reserve (East TZ) is the only place on the entire planet where African Violets grow in the wild. #52ThingsAboutTanzania [3]
— Tanzania's OWN (@AbelavsAK) December 9, 2013 [16]
One of Africa’s most respected figures, Julius Nyerere (1922 — 1999) was a politician of principle and intelligence. #52ThingsAboutTanzania [3]
— KijanaMokiwa (@stevpm) December 9, 2013 [17]
Mpingo trees a.k.a. Africa blackwood trees, commonly seen in Tanzania, are z most expensive hardwood tree in z world. #52ThingsAboutTanzania [3]
— KijanaMokiwa (@stevpm) December 9, 2013 [18]