Tanga, town, northeastern Tanzania, capital of Tanga Region, on Tanga Bay of the Indian Ocean. It is a road hub and coastal terminus of a railroad to a rich interior region in which sisal, hemp fiber, coffee, tea, and rubber are grown. Besides these products, cotton and hides and skins are exported; Tanga is one of the most important ports in the country. Local manufactures include food products, leather goods, cotton textiles, and handicrafts. Iranian ruins of the 14th century lie on an island in the harbor, and beaches line the bay. In the town are Lead Memorial Hall and Amboni Park. Nearby are the Amboni Caves and sulfur springs. The town was formerly ruled by the sultan of Zanzibar. The Germans raised their flag here in 1888, and developed it as an entry port for settlers. Population (1988) 187,634.
