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{{Short description|Historic town and regional capital of Lindi Region, southern Tanzania}}
{{Other uses}}
{{tone|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                   = Lindi Town
| native_name            = 
| settlement_type        =   [[List of cities in Tanzania|Port city]] of [[Lindi Region]]
| image_skyline          = Lindi Main Street beach.jpg
| imagesize              = 300px
| image_alt              = 
| image_caption          = Lindi Town bay side
| image_flag             = 
| flag_size              = 
| flag_alt               = 
| image_shield           = 
| shield_size            = 
| shield_alt             = 
| nickname               = Tanzania's coconut capital
| motto                 = 
| pushpin_map            = Tanzania#
| pushpin_label_position = Lindi
| pushpin_map_alt        = 
| pushpin_map_caption    = Location In Tanzania#
| pushpin_relief         = Yes
| coordinates            = {{coord|9|59|49|S|39|42|52|E|region:ES-CT_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes  = 
| subdivision_type       = Country
|subdivision_name   = {{flag|Tanzania}}
| subdivision_type1      = [[Regions of Tanzania|Region]]
| subdivision_name1      = [[Lindi Region]]
| leader_party           = Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM)
| leader_title           = 
| leader_name            = 
| area_footnotes         = 
| area_total_km2         = 
| elevation_footnotes    = 
| elevation_m            = 
| population_footnotes   = <ref>[http://www.citypopulation.de/en/tanzania/cities/ Population.de] Population of cities & urban localities in Tanzania</ref>
| population_total       = 95096
| population_as_of       = 2022 census
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym     = 
| population_note        = 
| area_code_type         = 
| area_code              = 023
| timezone               = [[East Africa Time|EAT]]
| utc_offset             = +3
| timezone_DST           = 
| utc_offset_DST         = 
| website                = {{URL|http://www.tanzania.go.tz/|Country website}}
| footnotes              = 
}}

[[File:Scene in Lindi, Tanzania.JPG|thumb|right|240px|A scene on Lindi's main street with shops and a students' hostel.]]

'''Lindi''' is a historic coastal town in southern [[Tanzania]] and the administrative center of the Lindi Region, the least populated region in the country. Situated at the head of Lindi Bay along the Indian Ocean, the town is located approximately 105 kilometers (65 miles) north of [[Mtwara]], the southernmost coastal town in [[Tanzania]], and about 450 kilometers (280 miles) south of [[Dar es Salaam]], the nation's largest city.

The town of Lindi is part of the larger [[municipality]] bearing the same name. Notably, Lindi Historic Town is recognized as a national historic site in Tanzania. Additionally, Lindi Airport, located 20 kilometers (12 miles) northeast of the town, providing air connectivity to the [[region]].

==History==
Lindi was founded in the 11th century. There is no record of a previous name of the [[Swahili people|Swahili]] town. In the 17th century, the town was renamed by the [[Omanis|Omani Arab]] colonizers as Lindi meaning "deep channel".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-02 |title=Lindi Town - Daily News |url=https://dailynews.co.tz/lindi-town/ |access-date=2024-08-06 |language=en-US}}</ref> The [[Omanis]] dominated local people and used the location as a port to sell and transport ivory and slaves to the global market.

With the coming of the German occupation in the 19th century, and later on the British occupation after [[World War I]], the town was the administrative capital of the southern province until 1952 when it was moved to [[Mtwara|Mtwara City]] due to its favorable [[harbor]] potential in [[Lindi Bay]]. In 1971, ten years after independence, the [[Nyerere]] administration made Lindi the regional seat for Lindi Region. However, in the following year of 1972, due to a socialist policy, urban councils were abolished in favor of rural development, negatively affecting the economy of the town. However, in 1978, urban councils were reintroduced.<ref name="economy">{{Cite web| title=Lindi Master Plan | url=https://www.lands.go.tz/uploads/documents/en/1567769286-LINDI%20MASTER%20PLAN.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210712100508/https://www.lands.go.tz/uploads/documents/en/1567769286-LINDI%20MASTER%20PLAN.pdf | archive-date=2021-07-12}}</ref>

==Economy==
The main economic activities are [[fishing]], [[salt production]], and the [[Coconut|farming of coconut]], [[cashew nuts]], and roselles.<ref name=economy/>
The 2012 national [[census]]<ref name=Census2012>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbs.go.tz/sensa/PDF/Census%20General%20Report%20-%2029%20March%202013_Combined_Final%20for%20Printing.pdf |title=2012 population and housing census |date=March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130612082906/http://www.nbs.go.tz/sensa/PDF/Census%20General%20Report%20-%2029%20March%202013_Combined_Final%20for%20Printing.pdf |archive-date=2013-06-12 |url-status=dead |page=85}}</ref> reported the town to have a population of 78,841.

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== Geography ==

Lindi is located at the mouth of the [[Lukuledi River]]. Located on [[Lindi Bay]]. Its port facilities are still rudimentary, allowing one or two small cargo and passenger boats at a time, and ocean-going ships cannot be accommodated.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.robmarine.com/PortsTZ11.html |title=Lindi port information |access-date=2006-11-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061030135052/http://www.robmarine.com/PortsTZ11.html |archive-date=2006-10-30 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The region was once an important area for [[sisal]]-producing plantations, especially in [[Kikwetu]], the Lindi airstrip, which lies 25 kilometers north of the town. Around 2012, Lindi was finally linked to Dar es Salaam by a continuous tarmac road, making Lindi accessible throughout the rainy season. An older tarmac road connects Lindi to [[Mtwara|Mtwara City]], passing through [[Mikindani]], an important historic Swahili settlement in [[Mtwara Region]]. The Rondo Forest Reserve is an important site of biodiversity which is located at the [[Rondo Plateau]] in the southern [[Lindi Region]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nature-reserves.go.tz/fnr/rondo|title=Rondo|website=www.nature-reserves.go.tz|access-date=2019-10-10}}</ref> Part of a Coastal Forest mosaic, the Rondo Plateau rises sharply from sea level to about {{convert|885|m|ft|-1|disp=or}} and therefore features a unique [[microclimate]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tfs.go.tz/index.php/en/forests/rondo-1|title=Rondo — Tanzania Forest Services Agency (TFS)|website=www.tfs.go.tz|access-date=2019-10-13}}</ref>

[[File:Birds Eye View of Lindi Town.jpg|thumb|left|Bird's eye View of Lindi Town]]
[[File:Lindi Street.jpg|thumb|left|Lindi Town Street Scene]]

==See also==
[[List of Swahili settlements of the East African coast]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}{{Lindi}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Swahili people]]
[[Category:Swahili city-states]]
[[Category:Swahili culture]]
[[Category:Lindi| ]]
[[Category:Regional capitals in Tanzania]]
[[Category:Populated places in Lindi Region]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Tanzania]]