Dar es Salaam

Dar es Salaam, largest city, industrial center, and major port of Tanzania, eastern Africa. It previously served as the country’s capital. The coastal city’s climate is hot and humid, with an annual rainfall of 43 inches (1,100 mm).

Dar es Salaam was founded in 1862 by the sultan of Zanzibar on the site of the village of Mzizima. It remained only a small port until the German East Africa Company established a station there in 1887. The starting point (1907) for the Central Line railroad, it served as the capital of German East Africa (1891–1916), Tanganyika (1961–64), and then Tanzania. In 1973 Dodoma was designated Tanzania’s national capital. The transfer of official functions to Dodoma was an enormous undertaking, however. It met with several delays and continued into the 21st century. Dar es Salaam remained the seat of most government administration until the transfer was complete. The city was the scene of a terrorist attack on the U.S. embassy by Islamic militants in 1998, in which 10 Tanzanians were killed and scores more were injured.

Buildings in Dar es Salaam often reflect the city’s colonial past and display a rich mix of architectural styles, incorporating Swahili, British, German, and Asian traditions. Post-World War II modernization and expansion brought contemporary multistory buildings, including a hospital complex, a technical institute, and a high court. Educational facilities include the University of Dar es Salaam (1961), several libraries and research institutes, and the National Museum. Dar es Salaam’s natural, nearly landlocked harbor is the outlet for most of mainland Tanzania’s agricultural and mineral exports and in addition serves the nearby land-locked countries of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, and Malawi. It is also a transit port for the Congo River, whose navigable tributary, the Lualaba, can be reached by rail. The city is the terminus of a rail line west to Kigoma on Lake Tanganyika and north to Mwanza on Lake Victoria, and the Tanzam Railway, completed in 1975, also connects Zambia with the port at Dar es Salaam. Dar es Salaam International Airport serves both domestic and international flights. With its picturesque harbor, beautiful beaches, and thriving nightlife, the city is a popular tourist destination. Local products include soap, paint, cigarettes, food products, metalware, glassware, textiles, wood carvings, and shoes. Pop. (2012) 4,364,541; (2022) 5,383,728.