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Zanzibar Channel

Coordinates: 06°00′S 39°00′E / 6.000°S 39.000°E / -6.000; 39.000
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Zanzibar Channel
The Zanzibar Channel in an 1872 map
Location of the Zanzibar Channel in Africa.
Location of the Zanzibar Channel in Africa.
Zanzibar Channel
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; 39.000
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 Ras Kanzi promontory, 22 km south of Dar es Salaam.[3]

Swimming

In 2015, the 29km 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. ^ a b Sediment Distribution and Transport in the Zanzibar Channel
  3. ^ Lighthouses of Tanzania
  4. ^ "First ever group crossing of the Swahili Channel".