Simiyu Region

Simiyu Region (Mkoa wa Simiyu in Swahili) is one of Tanzania's 31 administrative regions. The region covers a land area of . The region is comparable in size to the combined land area of the nation state of North Macedonia. The region is bordered to the north by the Mara Region, to the south by the Shinyanga Region and Singida Region. Mwanza Region borders the region to the west through Lake Victoria, and Arusha Region to the east. The region is home to the Serengeti National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, shared with Mara Region. The regional capital is the town of Bariadi. According to the 2012 national census, the region had a population of 1,534,808. History Simiyu Region is named after the Simiyu River. The region was created in March 2012,from part of Shinyanga Region. Geography The topography of the area is characterized by low, sparse vegetation and, in some areas, Miombo woodland. It is also flat with gentle undulations. With areas of red loamy and sandy soil, heavy black soils (Mbuga) make up the majority of the regional soils. There are three agro-ecological zones in the region. Zone One includes the Bariadi District, which has an undulating landscape dominated by clay soil and top soils with a light texture. Rainfall amounts range between 700 and 900 mm. Crop cultivation, with a focus on maize, sorghum, cotton, and cassava, as well as livestock rearing, are the main economic activities.