Eastern Africa
What tectonic plate is Tanzania on?
Tanzania spans 2 tectonic plates: the Somali Plate (96%) and the African Plate (3.8%).
- Plates
- 2
- M6.5+ quakes since 1900
- 4
- Holocene volcanoes
- 5
- Land area
- 945,786 km²
Plates under Tanzania
Share of Tanzania's land area on each plate (PB2002 model, Natural Earth outlines).
Plate boundaries
A plate boundary runs through or along Tanzania: the Somali-African boundary (divergent, about 0.3 cm/yr).
Earthquakes in Tanzania
Large earthquakes are uncommon in Tanzania. Since 1900 the USGS has recorded 4 of magnitude 6.5 or more in or just off the country.
| Earthquake | Magnitude | Year | Depth | Plate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 km SSW of Sumbawanga, Tanzania | M7.0 | 1919 | 15 km | African |
| 76 km ESE of Kalemie, Democratic Republic of the Congo | M6.8 | 2005 | 22 km | Somali |
| 28 km W of Dongobesh, Tanzania | M6.5 | 1964 | 31 km | Somali |
| 15 km W of Nkove, Tanzania | M6.5 | 2000 | 34 km | African |
Volcanoes in Tanzania
The Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program lists 5 volcanoes active in the last 12,000 years in Tanzania.
- Lengai, Ol Doinyo Stratovolcano · 2,962 m Last eruption 2026
- Meru Stratovolcano · 4,550 m Last eruption 1910
- Kyejo Stratovolcano · 2,176 m Last eruption 1800
- Ngozi Caldera · 2,614 m Last eruption 1450
- Rungwe Stratovolcano · 2,953 m Last eruption 1250
Frequently asked questions
What tectonic plate is Tanzania on?
Tanzania spans 2 tectonic plates: the Somali Plate (96%) and the African Plate (3.8%).
Is Tanzania on a plate boundary?
A plate boundary runs through or along Tanzania: the Somali-African boundary (divergent, about 0.3 cm/yr).
Does Tanzania get earthquakes?
Large earthquakes are uncommon in Tanzania. Since 1900 the USGS has recorded 4 of magnitude 6.5 or more in or just off the country. The largest was the M7.0 17 km SSW of Sumbawanga, Tanzania in 1919.
Are there volcanoes in Tanzania?
The Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program lists 5 volcanoes active in the last 12,000 years in Tanzania.