The Republic of Zanmitay, World Factbook

[Zanmitay]

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The Principality of Zanmitay, World Factbook

Basic Information:
Full nation name: The Principality of Zanmitay
Short name: Zanmitay
Capital: Port Dalma
Official languages: English, Kominike, French
Domonym: Zanmitayan
Currency: Lajan
Government type: Principality
Head of State: HSH Princess Julia Siri Rangaloo
Legislature: The Council of Union

[Zanmitay]

Geography of Zanmitay

Zanmitay is a country of South Asia, situated in the Indian Ocean, south-west of India, and north east of Madagascar. It consists of approximately a few thousand coral islands grouped in a double chain of 26 atolls, spread over roughly 90,000 square kilometers, making this one of the most disparate countries in the world. Composed of live coral reefs and sand bars, the atolls are situated atop a submarine ridge 960 kilometers long that rises abruptly from the depths of the Indian Ocean and runs from north to south. Only near the southern end of this natural coral barricade do two open passages permit safe ship navigation from one side of the Indian Ocean to the other through the territorial waters of Zanmitay. Starting 2007 the government started building man-made islands to help the growing population and limited space of Zanmitay.


One of the many islands of Zanmitay

Climate:
The local climate is tropical, modified by southeast trade winds; there is a warm, dry winter from May to November and a hot, wet, and humid summer from November to May. Anti-cyclones affect the country during May to September. Cyclones affect the country during November-April.

The climate is equable and healthy, although quite humid, as the islands are small and subject to marine influences. The temperature varies little throughout the year. Temperatures vary from 24 to 30 °C (75.2 to 86 °F), and rainfall ranges from 2,900 mm (114.2 in) annually. The southeast trade winds blow regularly from May to November, and this is the most pleasant time of the year. The hot months are from December to April, with higher humidity (80%). March and April are the hottest months, but the temperature seldom exceeds 31 °C (87.8 °F).

Flora & Fauna:
Environmental legislation is very strict, and every tourism project must undergo an environmental review and a lengthy process of consultations with the public and conservationists. Zanmitay is a world leader in sustainable tourism. The end result of this sustainable development is an intact and stable natural environment, which attracts financially strong visitors rather than short term mass tourism. Since 1993 a law guarantees the citizens the right to a clean environment and at the same time obliges them to protect this environment. The country holds a record for the highest percentage of land under natural conservation—nearly 50% of the total land area of the Seychelles.

The Giant Tortoise now populates many of the islands of Zanmitay. The population is one of the largest in the world.

There are several unique varieties of Orchids on the Islands.

Zanmitay hosts some of the largest seabird colonies in the world.

The marine life around the islands can be spectacular. More than 1,000 species of fish have been recorded. Since the use of spearguns and dynamite for fishing was banned through efforts of local conservationists in the 1960s, the wildlife is unafraid of snorkelers and divers.

[Zanmitay]

History of Zanmitay

Ancient History and Settlement
The first settlers in the Zanmitay islands were the Lanme Moun, an ethnic group who maintained a nomadic, sea-based culture. Their knowledge of the sea enabled them to live off its fauna and flora by using simple tools such as nets and spears to forage for food. What is not consumed is dried atop their boats, and then was used to barter for other necessities at floating markets. Because of the amount of time they would spend diving for food, Lanme Moun children were able to see better underwater due to accommodation of their visual focus. They were nomadic people who roamed the oceans most of their lives in large hand-crafted wooden boats called Kannot, which serve not just as transportation, but also as kitchen, bedroom, and living area. They would often anchor in shallow waters tying all their boats together to form large communities. Overtime these began to get larger and larger until there were many hundreds of boats all tied together.

Arab Immigration
The first Arabs to settle in Zanmitay came as refugees from the civil wars that followed the death of Mohammed in 632. Beginning in the tenth or eleventh century, Arabic slave-traders worked their way down the east coast of Africa in their dhows and would trade with the natives. Zanmitay began to become a major port of call. By the fifteenth century Europeans had wrested control of the spice-trade from the Muslims. The Arabs left Zanmitay and never came back.

Pirates & Slave Traders
Between 1680 and 1725, Zanmitay became a pirate stronghold. Many unfortunate sailors became shipwrecked and stranded on the reefs. Those who survived settled down with the natives, a few established a settlement on an atoll which the natives called San Dlo (Blood Water), so called because fishermen used to go regularly to a certain large sandbank at the southern end of their atoll to clean tuna fish after a good catch. Owing to the large amount of tuna fish blood, the waters around that sandbank looked like a big pool of blood.

The pirates plundered merchant ships in the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, and the Persian Gulf. They deprived Europe-bound ships of their silks, cloth, spices, and jewels. Vessels captured going in the opposite direction lost their coin, gold, and silver. The pirates robbed the Indian cargo ships that traded between ports in the Indian Ocean as well as ships commissioned by the East India Companies of France, England, and the Netherlands. The pilgrim fleet sailing between Surat in India and Mocha on the tip of the Arabian Peninsula provided a favorite target, because the wealthy Muslim pilgrims often carried jewels and other finery with them to Mecca.
Due to the shallow waters the islands and large coral reefs were almost impossible to attack and thus became an important defense. The Pirates in cooperation with the natives established government, schools, and shops using the treasures stolen.

Early 20th Century
In 1826 the British invaded Zanmitay. This was the first time a foreign nation had successfully attacked Zanmitay. The British made Zanmitay a self-governing colony and helped modernize the nation.
The British saw Zanmitay as a useful place to exile troublesome political prisoners. Over the years, Zanmitay became a home to prisoners from Zanzibar, Egypt, Cyprus and Palestine, to name but a few.
World War I caused great hardship in the islands. Ships could not bring in essential goods, nor take away exports. Wages fell, prices soared. Many turned to crime and the prisons were bursting.
By the end of World War I, the population of Zanmitay was over 24,000 and they were feeling neglected by Great Britain.

Independence
On 25 July 1965, Zanmitay declared independence from Britain and the House of Rangaloon was established once again as ruling family. Since then Zanmitay has worked hard to re-stablish itself as a modern island nation.