=== Geology and terrain ===

=== Geology and terrain ===

[[File:Tanga Terrain Map.svg|thumb|Tanga Terrain Map]]

[[File:Tanga Terrain Map.svg|thumb|Tanga Terrain Map]]

Tanga Region is the 15th largest region by size with an area of {{cvt|26,667|km2}}, after [[Songwe Region]] at {{cvt|27,656|km2}}. An area occupying 3% of the country. In comparison, Tanga is larger than the African nation of [[Burundi]] at 25,680 square kilometers. The Tanga Region shares land borders with four other regions and three regions across the [[Pemba Channel]] namely; [[Pemba North Region]], [[Pemba South Region]] and [[Zanzibar North]]. Tanga northwestern area is of high elevation, home to the [[Usambara Mountains]] with Tanga Region's highest point being [[Chambolo]] peak at 2,289 meters above sea level.{{Cite web|title=Usambara Peaks|url=https://peakvisor.com/adm/tanga.html|url-status=live|access-date=13 October 2021|website=peakvisor|archive-date=27 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027181842/https://peakvisor.com/adm/tanga.html}} The largest and longest river in Tanga Region is the [[Pangani River]], fed by the [[Umkomazi River]], [[Soni River]] and the [[Lwengera River]]. Tanga Region is located between 4 and 6 degrees south of the Equator. Another major river, the [[Mligasi River]] forms the southern border between Pwani Region and Tanga Region. Tanga Region is also home to largest cave system in East Africa, the [[Amboni Caves]] located a few kilometers north of Tanga city.{{Cite web|title=Amboni Caves|url=https://www.showcaves.com/english/other/caves/Amboni.html|url-status=live|access-date=13 October 2021|website=Showcaves|archive-date=29 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029174437/https://www.showcaves.com/english/other/caves/Amboni.html}}

Tanga Region is the 15th largest region by size with an area of {{cvt|26,667|km2}}, after [[Songwe Region]] at {{cvt|27,656|km2}}. An area occupying 3% of the country. In comparison, Tanga is larger than the African nation of [[Burundi]] at 25,680 square kilometers. Tanga Region shares land borders with four other regions and three regions across the [[Pemba Channel]] namely; [[Pemba North Region]], [[Pemba South Region]] and [[Zanzibar North]]. Tanga northwestern area is of high elevation, home to the [[Usambara Mountains]] with Tanga Region's highest point being [[Chambolo]] peak at 2,289 meters above sea level.{{Cite web|title=Usambara Peaks|url=https://peakvisor.com/adm/tanga.html|url-status=live|access-date=13 October 2021|website=peakvisor|archive-date=27 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027181842/https://peakvisor.com/adm/tanga.html}} The largest and longest river in Tanga Region is the [[Pangani River]], fed by the [[Umkomazi River]], [[Soni River]] and the [[Lwengera River]]. Tanga Region is located between 4 and 6 degrees south of the Equator. Another major river, the [[Mligasi River]] forms the southern border between Pwani Region and Tanga Region. Tanga Region is also home to largest cave system in East Africa, the [[Amboni Caves]] located a few kilometers north of Tanga city.{{Cite web|title=Amboni Caves|url=https://www.showcaves.com/english/other/caves/Amboni.html|url-status=live|access-date=13 October 2021|website=Showcaves|archive-date=29 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029174437/https://www.showcaves.com/english/other/caves/Amboni.html}}

=== Flora and Fauna ===

=== Flora and Fauna ===

== Demographics ==

== Demographics ==

=== Population ===

=== Population ===

Tanga Region's population in 2012 was around 2,045,205. [[Lushoto District]] having the highest population of 492,441. [[Pangani District]] has the lowest population of 54,025.{{Cite web|title=2012 Population and Housing Census|url=http://tanzania.countrystat.org/fileadmin/user_upload/countrystat_fenix/congo/docs/Census%20General%20Report-2012PHC.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=12 October 2021|archive-date=22 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922041941/http://tanzania.countrystat.org/fileadmin/user_upload/countrystat_fenix/congo/docs/Census%20General%20Report-2012PHC.pdf}} Tanga is home to around six major indigenous ethnic groups. It is the ancestral home to the [[Bondei people]] located on the central east coast of the Tanga Region, the majority in Pangani district and [[Muheza District]]. Most of western Tanga is home to the [[Zigula people]], the majority in [[Handeni District]].

Tanga Region's population in 2012 was around 2,045,205. [[Lushoto District]] having the highest population of 492,441. [[Pangani District]] has the lowest population of 54,025.{{Cite web|title=2012 Population and Housing Census|url=http://tanzania.countrystat.org/fileadmin/user_upload/countrystat_fenix/congo/docs/Census%20General%20Report-2012PHC.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=12 October 2021|archive-date=22 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922041941/http://tanzania.countrystat.org/fileadmin/user_upload/countrystat_fenix/congo/docs/Census%20General%20Report-2012PHC.pdf}} Tanga is home to around six major indigenous ethnic groups. It is the ancestral home to the [[Bondei people]] located on the central east coast of Tanga Region, the majority in Pangani district and [[Muheza District]]. Most of western Tanga is home to the [[Zigula people]], the majority in [[Handeni District]].

The [[Shambaa people|Sambaa]], the largest ethnic group in Tanga Region, are mostly found in the northern Tanga Region in the western Usambaras, Lushoto district, western [[Korogwe District]] and northern Muheza district. The [[Digo people]] and the [[Segeju people]] are a small minority within [[Mkinga District]] in the northeastern Tanga Region. Lastly the [[Ngulu people]] are native on the southwestern corner of Tanga Region's [[Kilindi District]].{{Cite journal|last=Willis|first=Justin|date=1992|title=The Makings of a Tribe: Bondei Identities and Histories|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/182998|journal=The Journal of African History|volume=33|issue=2|pages=191–208|issn=0021-8537|access-date=2021-10-13|archive-date=2021-10-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024095654/https://www.jstor.org/stable/182998|url-status=live}} Other smaller ethnic groups in Tanga Region include [[Mbugu language|Mbugu]] and [[Pare people]]. More recently in history, immigrants from other parts of the country and abroad have found economic opportunities in Tanga Region, including [[Indians in Tanzania|Indians]] and [[Arabs]].

The [[Shambaa people|Sambaa]], the largest ethnic group in Tanga Region, are mostly found in the northern Tanga Region in the western Usambaras, Lushoto district, western [[Korogwe District]] and northern Muheza district. The [[Digo people]] and the [[Segeju people]] are a small minority within [[Mkinga District]] in the northeastern Tanga Region. Lastly the [[Ngulu people]] are native on the southwestern corner of Tanga Region's [[Kilindi District]].{{Cite journal|last=Willis|first=Justin|date=1992|title=The Makings of a Tribe: Bondei Identities and Histories|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/182998|journal=The Journal of African History|volume=33|issue=2|pages=191–208|issn=0021-8537|access-date=2021-10-13|archive-date=2021-10-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024095654/https://www.jstor.org/stable/182998|url-status=live}} Other smaller ethnic groups in Tanga Region include [[Mbugu language|Mbugu]] and [[Pare people]]. More recently in history, immigrants from other parts of the country and abroad have found economic opportunities in Tanga Region, including [[Indians in Tanzania|Indians]] and [[Arabs]].