Latham Island

Latham Island

Map of Latham Island
Latham Island Location in Tanzania
Geography
Coordinates	6°54′S 39°56′E / 6.900°S 39.933°E / -6.900; 39.933Coordinates: 6°54′S 39°56′E / 6.900°S 39.933°E / -6.900; 39.933
Archipelago	Zanzibar Archipelago
Area	0.03 km2 (0.012 sq mi)
Length	0.3 km (0.19 mi)
Width	0.1 km (0.06 mi)
Highest elevation	4 m (13 ft)
Region	Zanzibar
Demographics
Population	Uninhabited

Latham Island, known locally as Fungu Kizimkazi, Fungu Mbaraka is a small, relatively isolated island in the Zanzibar Archipelago, Tanzania which is historical under the Government of Zanzibar since 1898.

History

The island has several local names in addition to Fungu Kizimkazi, the most Notable of which are Fungu la Mbarak after the Arab who had the right to collect wreckage there in the reign of seyid Barghash who was the (Sultan of Zanzibar), Shungu Mbili and Shan jove. The island was featured on an early sixteenth century Portuguese map (Ingrams, n.d) but it derives its present name from the East Indian man Latham which rediscovered it in 1758.^[1]

Zanzibar Administration on the Island

The island was annexed to Zanzibar on 19 October 1898, British First Minister Sir Lloyd Mathews under the order of the Sultan of Zanzibar he visited the island and planted Zanzibar Flag on the Island and declared it official the island is under the administration of Zanzibar. Lloyd Mathews arrived on the island on 18 October 1898 with the warship HHS Barawa alongside Captain Arthur Agnew, Zanzibar Port Officer and Dr. Alfred Andrew Spurrier a Medical Officer.

Following the Plantation of Zanzibar Flag on 19 October 1898, 21-gun salutes were performed as a military honor and the island was official annexed to Sultan's Authority. An iron house was built and the corner stone was laid written, "LATHAM ISLAND, FUNGU KIZIMKAZI UNDER ZANZIBAR SOVEREIGNTY".

Geography

Latham Island is a flat coral island located 60 km (37 mi) south-east of Unguja and 66 km (41 mi) east of Dar es Salaam. It is roughly 300 metres (980 ft) long and 300 metres (980 ft) wide, and has an area of 0.03 square kilometres (0.01 sq mi). The island is surrounded by a fringing reef and is oceanic, as it lies off the continental shelf and is surrounded by deep water.^[2][3]

Ecology

The island is an important breeding ground for various bird species, namely the masked booby, greater crested tern, sooty tern and the brown noddy. Latham is also thought to be of importance for nesting turtles.^[4]

Dispute

Although the Island is under Zanzibar territorial water, controversy has emerged over the ownership of the Latham Island between Zanzibar and Tanzania Mainland, the Island is ruled by the United Republic of Tanzania and not under the Zanzibar jurisdiction.[5] Some members of the House of Representatives in Zanzibar and Opposition leaders have been complaining about ownership of the Blocks and Latham Island.[6]

References