Wete
{{Short description|Capital of North Pemba Region, Tanzania}}
File:Pemba Wete city map1a.jpg
Wete is a town located on the Tanzanian island of Pemba. It is the capital of Pemba North Region, as well as the administrative seat for Wete District. It lies on the west side of the northern part of the island. The town has a population of 35,951 in 2022. The harbor at Wete was a major port-of-entry for accessing the Pemba island.
History
Pemba was called as "The Green Island" by early Arab settlers. It was part of Sultanate of Oman in the 17th century, before being ceded to the British. The region formed an important part of the spice trade from East Africa to India via Arabia.{{cite web|url=https://www.fundulagoon.com/pdf/Pemba%20History.pdf|title=Pemba History|work=Fundu|access-date=1 June 2025}}
Geography
Wete is located on the west side of the northern part of the island of Pemba. It is the capital and largest city of Pemba North Region, as well as the administrative seat for Wete District.{{GEOnet2|32FA88191E863774E0440003BA962ED3|Wete (Approved)}}, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency{{cite web|url=https://www.mindat.org/feature-150733.html|title=Pemba North|work=Mindat|access-date=1 June 2025}} The region has rich natural resources, and a varied ecosystem with coral reefs, and mangrove forests. To the southwest of Wete is the small island of Matambwe, the site of Swahili ruins of a medieval town called Mtambwe Kuu.{{cite book|author=Finke, Jens|year=2010|title=The Rough Guide to Zanzibar|publisher=Penguin Books|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=sIpmuWQlvxMC&pg=PT346 346]}}
=Climate=
Wete has a tropical climate, milder than Tanzania's mainland and Unguja island. This climate is classified as a tropical monsoon climate (Am) by the Köppen system. The average temperature in Wete is {{convert|25.5|°C|°F|disp=or}}. The average annual rainfall is {{convert|1,714|mm|in|0|disp=or}}. The monthly average temperatures are usually between {{convert|23.6|and|27.2|°C|°F|1}}. There are two rainy seasons, with most rainfall coming between March and June and smaller rain season occurring between November and December. Drier months are January and February, plus a longer drier season between July and October.
{{Weather box
|location = Wete
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|temperature colour = pastel
|Jan high C = 30.8
|Feb high C = 31.5
|Mar high C = 31.7
|Apr high C = 30.1
|May high C = 28.8
|Jun high C = 28.5
|Jul high C = 27.8
|Aug high C = 28.0
|Sep high C = 28.8
|Oct high C = 29.6
|Nov high C = 30.1
|Dec high C = 30.7
|year high C = 29.7
|Jan mean C = 26.7
|Feb mean C = 27.1
|Mar mean C = 27.2
|Apr mean C = 26.4
|May mean C = 25.2
|Jun mean C = 24.5
|Jul mean C = 23.7
|Aug mean C = 23.6
|Sep mean C = 24.1
|Oct mean C = 24.9
|Nov mean C = 25.7
|Dec mean C = 26.5
|year mean C = 25.5
|Jan low C = 22.7
|Feb low C = 22.7
|Mar low C = 22.8
|Apr low C = 22.7
|May low C = 21.7
|Jun low C = 20.5
|Jul low C = 19.6
|Aug low C = 19.2
|Sep low C = 19.4
|Oct low C = 20.2
|Nov low C = 21.4
|Dec low C = 22.4
|year low C = 21.3
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 66
|Feb rain mm = 51
|Mar rain mm = 134
|Apr rain mm = 410
|May rain mm = 378
|Jun rain mm = 121
|Jul rain mm = 80
|Aug rain mm = 50
|Sep rain mm = 37
|Oct rain mm = 92
|Nov rain mm = 181
|Dec rain mm = 114
|source 1 = Climate-Data.ORG{{cite web
| url = https://en.climate-data.org/location/26482/| title = Wete | access-date = 26 July 2017}}
}}
Demographics and economy
File:Market in Wete, Pemba Island, Tanzania.JPG
The town has a population of 35,951 in 2022.{{cite web|url=http://www.citypopulation.de/en/tanzania/cities/|work=Citypopulation.de|title=Population of cities & urban localities in Tanzania|access-date=1 June 2025}} The region's fertile landscape has long made it suitable for agriculture—especially for clove production, which still dominates its economy. Fishing, livestock, and tourism are the other contributors to the economy. The region is also culturally significant for its long-standing traditions in voodoo and spiritual healing, drawing visitors from across East Africa seeking remedies.
The harbor at Wete was a major port-of-entry for accessing the Pemba island.{{cite book|author=Gabe, Hans|year=1969|title=African harbour pilot|series=Hans Gade's Harbour Pilots|edition=second|location=Copenhagen|publisher=Hans Gade's Harbour Pilots Succ.|page=390|oclc=97456}} though in recent years, it has been complemented by Mkoani.{{cite book|author=Fitzpatrick, Mary|year=2009|title=East Africa|location=Footscray, Victoria, Australia|publisher=Lonely Planet|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=Q3e8P7XvcokC&pg=PA144 144]|isbn=978-1-74104-769-1}} Dhows, the traditional Arab sailing vessels, have remained integral to the region’s maritime trade and identity, and are still operated on routes connecting Wete with Shimoni in Kenya, and Northern Mozambique.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Coord|5|03|24|S|39|43|41|E|region:TZ_type:city|display=title}}