Zanzibar (pronounced /ˈzænzɨbɑr/) in OTL is a semi-autonomous part of the United Republic of Tanzania, in East Africa. It comprises the Zanzibar Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, 25–50 km (16–31 mi) off the coast of the mainland, and consists of numerous small islands and two large ones: Unguja (the main island, informally referred to as Zanzibar), and Pemba. Other nearby island countries and territories include Comoros and Mayotte to the south, Mauritius and Réunion to the far southeast, and the Seychelles Islands about 1500 km to the east. Zanzibar was once a separate state with a long trading history within the Arab world; it united with Tanganyika to form Tanzania in 1964 and still enjoys a high degree of autonomy within the union. The capital of Zanzibar, located on the island of Unguja, is Zanzibar City, and its historic center, known as Stone Town, is a World Heritage Site.
Zanzibar's main industries are spices, raffia, and tourism. In particular, the islands produce cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon and pepper. For this reason, the islands, together with Tanzania's Mafia Island, are sometimes called the Spice Islands (a term also associated with the Maluku Islands in Indonesia). Zanzibar's ecology is of note for being the home of the endemic Zanzibar Red Colombus and the (possibly extinct) Zanzibar Leopard.
Alternate versions of Zanzibar have been discovered in the multiverse:
- Kingdom of Zanzibar (Napoleon's World)
- Republic of Zanzibar and Pemba (1983: Doomsday)
- Sultanate of Zanzibar (Hitler's Win)
- Zanzibar (Rottingham)
- Zanzibar (Third Time's the Charm)
Alternate versions of Zanzibar have also been discovered belonging to other nations:
- China
- Republic of East Africa (Samsu)
- Turkey
- United Nations of East Africa (Aztec Empire)
- United Republic of Tanganyika (Vegetarian World)
- United States of Africa (PS-1)