THE MBOZI METEORITE
By Kenneth Mwazembe
Mob No. 0754 538920, 0762246322
Email : kmwazembe@yahoo.com, Kennethmwazembe@gmail.com
Website: www.maishanivita.blogspot.com
GENERAL OVERVIEW
A meteorite is defined as a piece of rock that has fallen from space and landed on the ground.
The fall of a meteorite is said to be a most spectacular event. At night it seen as a flaming mass flying through the sky, accompanied by a loud roaring noise. But, very surprisingly, meteorites picked up within minutes of falling as flaming objects are found to be extremely cold, and may become covered in frost under the warmest conditions. This is because the temperature in outer space is many degrees below freezing, and although the surface of the meteorite burns, the duration of its fall is so short that the inside of the meteorite remains very cold. As soon as it comes to rest on the ground, the internal cold asserts itself, until the whole object becomes adjusted to the atmospheric temperature.
Mbozi Meteorite
A meteorite having more than 12 tons fell at Marengi hill, Ndolezi village in Mbozi district, Mbeya region, Tanzania. It is bearing special characters different from other meteorite found in the world as to its composition.
The Mbozi Meteorite is about 70km from Mbeya city, the turn off from the Great North Road onto the Mbozi circle road is 53 km from Mbeya; the circle road rejoins the Great North Road at Vwawa town.
Scientist have classified meteorite in three groups namely; Aerolites (Stones), Siderolites (Stony-irons) and Siderites (Iron). The Mbozi meteorite is Siderites or Iron.
It was given the name Mbozi Meteorite bearing the name of the district where it fell. As explained before, Mbozi is the name of district found in Mbeya region in Southern Highland Zone of Tanzania.
It lies on southwest slope of Marengi hill, Lat. 90 6’ 25” S. Lon. 330 2’ 00” E.
Its dimensions are:
Height approximately 1m 22cm
Maximum width 1m 63cm
Length 3m 30cm
Estimated weight 12 tons
Oates analyzed the composition which indicates iron as follows:
Iron 90.45%
Nickel 8.69%
Copper 0.66%
Sulphur 0.01%
Phosphorus 0.11%
No body knows the exactly date of falling event, but its existence came to be known worldwide in 1930 when Mr. W. H. Nott, a private surveyor reported it. He was informed its existence by indigenous people who were used to worship there and when he went there he found its top was only just visible above the ground, later, a trench was dug round it in order to find out how large it was.
It is believed that the meteorite fell many thousands of years ago, if it had been in the last thousand years, it is almost certain that there would still be signs of the large crater which it must have made when it fell.
These people of Nyiha tribe regarded the meteorite as gift from God, local legends shows that long long time ago, God sent this meteorite to their land as sign of blessing, the spiritualism made them to believe that the land was blessed and they were encouraged to work intensively in farm works provided the weather was fair to grow food crops in fertile land.
The story of special blessings from God attracted Mr. Nott who by that time was surveying the land under German colonialism. Is the one who reported about Mbozi Meteorite in October 1930 and the government legally protected it by Government Notice No. 41 of 1931.
The benefits of heritage Mbozi Meteorite
The Mbozi Meteorite was declared a protected monument by Government Notice No. 90 of 3rd March 1967 (Antiquities Act, 1964). It was not lifted in order to mount it on its plinth; a trench was dug underneath its central part and a concrete bench was built to hold it. The trench was then enlarged on both side and the concrete bench extended until the meteorite was resting on the plinth. The hill side was dug away all round it so that it could be seen more easily.
Mbozi Meteorite is tourism attract in the Southern Highland zone although the government has not paid enough attention in preserving, publishing and advertising to the outer world.
Tourists have been coming, visiting, taking photos freely, no proper record kept. It is not well developed to the point of imposing something as the government ignores its importance. There are no essential facilities like toilets, rest rooms and water.
To the local people, this monument is regarded as dead capital, useless, meaningless, this is because the government has put itself aside, observing situation from 900 to the subject.
I call initiative from activists, civil societies and other interested parties to interact and tell the GIANT to participate fully in order to raise money from tourism sector which can help people of the said area.
If we are serious with the matter! Then we have to start it now! Let us awake the GIANT, take its responsibilities, publicities and publishing so as to invite tourists to immerse the existence of the said meteorite.
It is shame to say our GIANT (Government) has paid heavy force/invested in tourism to the Northern Region especially, Manyara, Serengeti and Ngorongoro national parks.
End
MBEYA REGION TOURISM ATTRACTIONS
Apart from Mbozi Meteorite, there are also other tourism attractions which have not been publicities and declared as tourism attractions.
I have summarized these attractions as follows:
i) Human foot print found at Nkangamo Mbozi district (rock)
ii) Carving (rock paint) found at Nkangamo Mbozi district painted 3000 years ago.
iii) Crocodile attraction of lake Rukwa Mbozi district
iv) Lake Rukwa to Geographers – has inward drainage
v) To Historians – Mbozi was the first place of White settlement who established coffee farms (plantations)
vi) Kiwira Natural Bridge (daraja la Mungu) – Rungwe district
vii) Lake Ngozi Crater found at Number 1 village of Mbeya Rural district
viii) Lake Kisiba Crater found at Masoko Rungwe district
ix) Lake Nyasa beach (very attracting) especially Matema Beach run by Lutheran Mission and Delta of Kiwira river
x) Mount Rungwe – having Natural cave, pure water springs, plant species which can not be found at any other place worldwide.
xi) Mbeya as a head of Rift Valley (Eastern and Western Rift Valley is divided in Mbeya region) – for Geographers.
xii) Hot water spring- Songwe, Mbozi district
xiii) Kaporogwe water falls- Rungwe district
xiv) Nsala and Mfuto water falls – Mbozi district (the place has wonders of doves and rich of gemstones )
xv) Biggest tree found at Masoko Rungwe having 250 years old
xvi) Kinyungu – underground lake at Kiwira river near to the Natural bridge
By Kenneth Mwazembe
Mob No. 0754 538920, 0762246322
Email : kmwazembe@yahoo.com, Kennethmwazembe@gmail.com
Website: www.maishanivita.blogspot.com
GENERAL OVERVIEW
A meteorite is defined as a piece of rock that has fallen from space and landed on the ground.
The fall of a meteorite is said to be a most spectacular event. At night it seen as a flaming mass flying through the sky, accompanied by a loud roaring noise. But, very surprisingly, meteorites picked up within minutes of falling as flaming objects are found to be extremely cold, and may become covered in frost under the warmest conditions. This is because the temperature in outer space is many degrees below freezing, and although the surface of the meteorite burns, the duration of its fall is so short that the inside of the meteorite remains very cold. As soon as it comes to rest on the ground, the internal cold asserts itself, until the whole object becomes adjusted to the atmospheric temperature.
Mbozi Meteorite
A meteorite having more than 12 tons fell at Marengi hill, Ndolezi village in Mbozi district, Mbeya region, Tanzania. It is bearing special characters different from other meteorite found in the world as to its composition.
The Mbozi Meteorite is about 70km from Mbeya city, the turn off from the Great North Road onto the Mbozi circle road is 53 km from Mbeya; the circle road rejoins the Great North Road at Vwawa town.
Scientist have classified meteorite in three groups namely; Aerolites (Stones), Siderolites (Stony-irons) and Siderites (Iron). The Mbozi meteorite is Siderites or Iron.
It was given the name Mbozi Meteorite bearing the name of the district where it fell. As explained before, Mbozi is the name of district found in Mbeya region in Southern Highland Zone of Tanzania.
It lies on southwest slope of Marengi hill, Lat. 90 6’ 25” S. Lon. 330 2’ 00” E.
Its dimensions are:
Height approximately 1m 22cm
Maximum width 1m 63cm
Length 3m 30cm
Estimated weight 12 tons
Oates analyzed the composition which indicates iron as follows:
Iron 90.45%
Nickel 8.69%
Copper 0.66%
Sulphur 0.01%
Phosphorus 0.11%
No body knows the exactly date of falling event, but its existence came to be known worldwide in 1930 when Mr. W. H. Nott, a private surveyor reported it. He was informed its existence by indigenous people who were used to worship there and when he went there he found its top was only just visible above the ground, later, a trench was dug round it in order to find out how large it was.
It is believed that the meteorite fell many thousands of years ago, if it had been in the last thousand years, it is almost certain that there would still be signs of the large crater which it must have made when it fell.
These people of Nyiha tribe regarded the meteorite as gift from God, local legends shows that long long time ago, God sent this meteorite to their land as sign of blessing, the spiritualism made them to believe that the land was blessed and they were encouraged to work intensively in farm works provided the weather was fair to grow food crops in fertile land.
The story of special blessings from God attracted Mr. Nott who by that time was surveying the land under German colonialism. Is the one who reported about Mbozi Meteorite in October 1930 and the government legally protected it by Government Notice No. 41 of 1931.
The benefits of heritage Mbozi Meteorite
The Mbozi Meteorite was declared a protected monument by Government Notice No. 90 of 3rd March 1967 (Antiquities Act, 1964). It was not lifted in order to mount it on its plinth; a trench was dug underneath its central part and a concrete bench was built to hold it. The trench was then enlarged on both side and the concrete bench extended until the meteorite was resting on the plinth. The hill side was dug away all round it so that it could be seen more easily.
Mbozi Meteorite is tourism attract in the Southern Highland zone although the government has not paid enough attention in preserving, publishing and advertising to the outer world.
Tourists have been coming, visiting, taking photos freely, no proper record kept. It is not well developed to the point of imposing something as the government ignores its importance. There are no essential facilities like toilets, rest rooms and water.
To the local people, this monument is regarded as dead capital, useless, meaningless, this is because the government has put itself aside, observing situation from 900 to the subject.
I call initiative from activists, civil societies and other interested parties to interact and tell the GIANT to participate fully in order to raise money from tourism sector which can help people of the said area.
If we are serious with the matter! Then we have to start it now! Let us awake the GIANT, take its responsibilities, publicities and publishing so as to invite tourists to immerse the existence of the said meteorite.
It is shame to say our GIANT (Government) has paid heavy force/invested in tourism to the Northern Region especially, Manyara, Serengeti and Ngorongoro national parks.
End
MBEYA REGION TOURISM ATTRACTIONS
Apart from Mbozi Meteorite, there are also other tourism attractions which have not been publicities and declared as tourism attractions.
I have summarized these attractions as follows:
i) Human foot print found at Nkangamo Mbozi district (rock)
ii) Carving (rock paint) found at Nkangamo Mbozi district painted 3000 years ago.
iii) Crocodile attraction of lake Rukwa Mbozi district
iv) Lake Rukwa to Geographers – has inward drainage
v) To Historians – Mbozi was the first place of White settlement who established coffee farms (plantations)
vi) Kiwira Natural Bridge (daraja la Mungu) – Rungwe district
vii) Lake Ngozi Crater found at Number 1 village of Mbeya Rural district
viii) Lake Kisiba Crater found at Masoko Rungwe district
ix) Lake Nyasa beach (very attracting) especially Matema Beach run by Lutheran Mission and Delta of Kiwira river
x) Mount Rungwe – having Natural cave, pure water springs, plant species which can not be found at any other place worldwide.
xi) Mbeya as a head of Rift Valley (Eastern and Western Rift Valley is divided in Mbeya region) – for Geographers.
xii) Hot water spring- Songwe, Mbozi district
xiii) Kaporogwe water falls- Rungwe district
xiv) Nsala and Mfuto water falls – Mbozi district (the place has wonders of doves and rich of gemstones )
xv) Biggest tree found at Masoko Rungwe having 250 years old
xvi) Kinyungu – underground lake at Kiwira river near to the Natural bridge
KAKA KENNETH... I have been on similar mission to shout out about mamaland Tanzania and Afrika in general to the west... our SIRIKALI has been so quiet in shouting to the world about our very very rich history in Tanzania. It surprises InI. I was aware of the Mbozi meteorite and I was putting something together to tell the world via internet (at the moment to site called World of Jah)... while searching for picture, InI came across your blog. Asante kaka kwa kazi nzuri. You have explained it so well, that InI just gonna copy your story... hope you don't mind. I have been to Mbeya few times, so I feel a strong kinship. InI thanks you for listing these other attractions because some were unknown to InI despite being a Tanzanian who had been to Mbeya... shame on Sirikali. InI think Mbeya regional govt should promote itself instead of waiting for sirikali kuamka.
ReplyDeletemy topic link is http://www.worldofjah.com/forum/topics/to-my-afrikan-born-bredrens-n?commentId=1042051%3AComment%3A585018&xg_source=msg_com_forum
Karibu uchangie... bless up Kaka. Pia nime-link blog yako ili wengi waisome.
Do you mind if I quote a few of your posts as long as I provide credit and sources back to your blog?
ReplyDeleteMy blog site is in the very same niche as yours and my users would really benefit from some of the information you present here.
Please let me know if this okay with you. Many thanks!
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