[5] Mzizima (Mji Mzima), which means "a healthy town" in Kiswahili, was the original name of the area that is now known as Dar es Salaam, which dates back to 1857.

Majid bin Said, the Sultan of Zanzibar (c. 1834–1870), officially founded the city Dar es Salaam, with an Arabic name that translates as "haven of peace," in 1866.

[7] After World War II, Dar es Salaam expanded quickly and soon became the epicenter of anti-colonial activity under the leadership of the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU), which was established there.

Contagious lands near the shore strata is reasonably flat with visible N-S fractures forming a tiered landscape and a small east dip.

They are composed of sandy sediments that favor infiltration and replenish the ground water to maintain flow throughout the dry season, and run toward the Indian Ocean in a northeasterly direction.

It travels through the Pugu Forest Reserves and joins the Sinza, Ubungo, and Luhanga rivers as it flows eastward toward the Indian Ocean.

For residents of Dar es Salaam and surrounding areas, it is a crucial source of water for drinking, bathing, supporting industry, agriculture, and environmental protection.

The river's functional advantages and even the customary practice of irrigation of vegetable fields are negatively impacted by heavy metal pollution from industries.

[16] Dar es Salaam is Tanzania's principal economic engine, serving as an administrative, industrial, fisheries, and commercial center (including mining trade).

Furthermore, it has been stated that approximately 89 percent of all property in Tanzania is owned outside of the legal system, not linked to formal domestic and international markets.

Pit latrines, which are commonly found in densely populated regions, are prone to flooding during the rainy season due to a lack of drainage systems, particularly in squatter zones.

[17] Julius Nyerere International Airport serves the Ilala Municipal Council as the primary entry point for incoming and outgoing aviation passengers.

Prior to WWII, private autos and non-motorized transport (NMT) modes such as walking and cycling dominated urban travel.

[17] City streets, for example, lack walkways, bicycle paths, zebra crossings, footbridges, and pedestrian signs and markings.

[17] The metropolis is suffering from severe air pollution as a result of the city's unchecked geographical development and rapid economic growth.

Increased traffic volume, insufficient parking spaces for heavy-duty trucks, industrial activity, and the poor condition of vehicles and roads have all been identified as major contributors to the deterioration of air quality in these locations.

The main factor contributing to the decline in the quality of urban surface water is insufficient pollution control measures of anthropogenic activity.

Numerous national and international corporations release untreated liquid waste into rivers, creeks, and streams, as well as estuaries that eventually drain into the ocean.

High levels of microbial contamination of groundwater extracted from shallow wells situated in populated urban areas have been observed in studies.

Dar es Salaam is home to a number of other hydrocarbon-based industrial operations, such as the Tanzania International Petroleum Reserves Limited (TIPER) near Vijibweni, Kigamboni MC.

To address the challenges posed by climate change and to meet the requirements of low-income urban people, adaptive approaches must take these concerns into account.

Numerous people were consuming untreated water from boreholes and streams in the high-density areas of Ubungo, Manzese, Sinza, Kawe, Buguruni, and Temeke as well as the central business district.

[27] According to a number of reports, the early March 2008 torrential rains resulted in significant costs for society and the economy, including flooding of homes, damage to smaller bridges and roads, and the deaths of numerous children.

These areas are home to a wide range of housing types, such as detached two to three story villas and bungalows that were initially built for European government officials on large plots of land measuring about 2,000 square meters, which promote sprawling urban development patterns.

However, during the past three decades, these settlements have begun to change from primarily Swahili-style homes to apartment buildings, one of which serves as an overflow region for the expanding commercial, office, and residential needs of the city center.

The majority of the areas once designated for such uses have long since been infiltrated or formally converted to residential construction, auto repair shops, schools, warehouses, showrooms, office buildings, or religious structures.

As things stand, the construction program funded by the government and the NHC is still prohibitively expensive for low-income residents, fueling the growth of informal settlements.

Waste Management and Sanitation, Engineering and Fire Services, Urban Planning, Transportation, Environment, Health, and Finance and Administration are all under the control of the city director.

Ward and sub-ward (Mtaa) leaders, as well as villages (vijiji) and hamlets (vitongoji) in some places, are appointed by and accountable to the Municipal Director at the lowest administrative levels.

[17] Dar es Salaam Region is divided into five administrative districts,[41] four of which are governed by municipal councils[a] that are affiliated with the city's suburbs or wards.