| Zanzibar Channel | |
|---|---|
The Zanzibar Channel in an 1872 map | |
| Coordinates | 06°00′S39°00′E / 6.000°S 39.000°E /-6.000; 39.000 |
| Ocean/sea sources | Indian Ocean |
| Basin countries | Tanzania |
| Max. length | 110 km (68 mi) |
| Max. width | 37 km (23 mi)[1] |
| Islands | Unguja (Zanzibar) |
TheZanzibar Channel is astrait in south-eastern Africa, separating the island ofUnguja (also known as Zanzibar) from mainlandTanzania. 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. The channel is entirely located in Tanzanianterritorial waters.[2] In ancient times the overall depth of the channel has been considerably smaller (about 120 m less during the lastice age).[2]
The southern entrance to the Channel is indicated by alighthouse located on the mainland coast on theRas Kanzipromontory, 22 km south ofDar es Salaam.[3]
In 2015, the 29 km 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]