Mara (Region)

Mara is one of the 26 regions of Tanzania. Their name is derived from the eponymous river Mara, coming through the flows of Kenya, the region from east to west and empties into Lake Victoria. The capital is Musoma.

The region comprises 30,150 km ² ( of which 7,500 km ² water surface ) and is located in the north of the country. It is bordered on the west by Lake Victoria and in the north to the Kenyan border. In the east, the Arusha Region and to the south the regions of Mwanza and Shinyanga is the. The region is divided into the following districts: Bunda in the south- west, south-east Serengeti, Tarime and Rorya in the north, and the capital Musoma (city) and Musoma (country ).

According to the census in 2002 lived in the area 1,368,602 people, making it one of the dünnbesiedeltsten areas of the country. The inhabitants belong to different strains, including mainly Luo, Jita, Zanaki, Kurya, Kabwa, Kiroba, Simbiti, Ngoreme, Kwaya, Ikoma, Nata, Isenye, Ikizu, Sizaki, Sukuma and Taturu. The people are mostly (about 95 %) or Christian " animististischen " faith with a small Muslim share, especially in the cities.

The region falls from east to west, and is divided into 3 zones. In the east, the Tarime highlands with an average altitude is 1500 - 1800 m above sea level. Two rainy seasons ( mid-February to June and mid-September to early January ) results in annual rainfall of about 1500 mm. The temperatures are fairly cool. This, this is in conjunction with good soils foundation for an expanding agriculture, for their own consumption grows even specialty crops such as coffee and bananas in addition to the cultivation of fruits and plants. The expansion of livestock collides somewhat with the intensification of other agriculture. The area is predominantly inhabited by Kurya.

In the West, is located at about 1100 - 1200 m above sea level, the so-called sea zone that extends along the Lake Victoria about 10 - 15 km wide extends into the interior. Here, the Jita majority of the population. Main source of income was in addition to agriculture, which is more here operated as horticulture and created fragmented, fishing in the lake. This source of income, however, has suffered greatly due to overfishing and pollution of the lake by discharges. The precipitation is 900 mm per year and temperatures can be Referred to as warm.

In the sea area between rising and plateau hills the Luo are the main ethnic group. The large livestock are one of the main sources of income here.

On Lake Victoria, which is still an important means to carry passengers, are the towns Shirati, kinesio, Musoma, Ikungu, Suguti, Bukima and Kibara. The inland towns are Utegi, Nyamongo, Simba, Ushashi, Ikoma and Banagi. The region can be reached via the airport of the capital Musoma. From there the roads to Kenya and Serengeti National Park. Also available in most other cities on small airfields that are linked from the capital with regular airlines.

Approx. 7000 km ² of the Serengeti National Park, which also includes parts of the neighboring region of Arusha, stretching over almost a third of the Mara region.