Tanga

Tanga, town in north-east Tanzania, capital of Tanga Region, on the Indian Ocean. It is a road junction and the coastal terminus of a railway to a rich interior region in which sisal, hemp fibre, coffee, tea, and rubber are grown. Besides these products, cotton, hides, and skins are exported; Tanga is one of the most important ports in the country. Local manufactured goods include foodstuffs, leather goods, cotton textiles, and local crafts. Persian ruins from the 14th century lie on an island in the harbour, and beaches line the bay. In the town are Lead Memorial Hall and Amboni Park. Nearby are the Amboni Caves and sulphur springs. The town was formerly ruled by the sultan of Zanzibar. The Germans raised their flag here in 1888, and developed it as an entry port for settlers before the British took over control in 1917. Population 187,634 (1988).