1954 Geological Survey Geological Map of East Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania)

A striking piece, this is a 1952 Geological Survey Department of Tanganyika (modern-day Tanzania) geological map of British East Africa and the first comprehensive and accurate general geological map of Africa. The map depicts the region from Rwanda, Burundi, and Lake Tanganyika to the Indian Ocean and from Ethiopia and Sudan to Northern Rhodesia, Portuguese East Africa, and Lake Nyasa. Highlighting the geology of the modern-day countries of Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, nineteen different geological formations are identified in a 'geological index' situated in the lower right corner along the right border. The region where each formation has been identified is shaded the corresponding color and labeled with the small letter noted in the index. Fault lines running through the region are marked by solid black lines. Cities and towns are identified throughout, including Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Entebbe, and Zanzibar. Topographical features, such as Mount Kenya and the Rift Valley, are also illustrated and labeled.

The Inter-Territorial Geological Conference

The colonies of Kenya, Uganda, and Tanganyika founded their own Geological Survey Departments in the 1920s and decided that, even though each colony would have their own Department, the departments would hold a conference every five years to share information and jointly plan operations. At the Fifth Inter-Territorial Geological Conference, the three colonies had successfully completed enough geological surveying work that it was possible to compile a geological map of the whole of British East Africa. The Drawing Office of the Geological Survey Department of Tanganyika would be responsible for the creation of the map, using information gathered by all three Departments.

Publication History and Census

This map was drawn by the Geological Survey Department of Tanganyika from data collected by the Geological Surveys of Kenya, Uganda, and Tanganyika and published by the Inter-Territorial Geological Conference in 1952.