Ruvuma Region(Mkoa wa Ruvuma in Swahili) is one of Tanzania's 31 administrative regions The region covers a land area of . The region is comparable in size to the combined land area of the nation state of Latvia. The region is also bordered to the north by the Morogoro Region, to the northeast by the Lindi Region, to the east by the Mtwara Region,the west by Lake Nyasa with Malawi and to the northwest by the Njombe Region. The regional capital is the municipality of Songea. According to the 2012 national census, the region had a population of 1,376,891, which was lower than the pre-census projection of 1,449,830. For 2002–2012, the region's 2.1 percent average annual population growth rate was the twentieth highest in the country. It was also the 28th most densely populated region with . Etymology The region is named after the Ruvuma River, the second longest river in Tanzania, which forms most of its southern boundary with Niassa province of Mozambique (where it is known as «Rovuma»). Geography Ruvuma Region is located in the Southern Highlands, which range between 300 and 2000 meters above sea level. Lake Nyasa, which is located in the Western arm of the Great Rift Valley, covers the western portion of the area. The Matengo Mountains ranges, which reach heights of up to 2000 meters, are to the east of the Rift Valley. In a similar vein, the Lukumburu Mountains, which can reach an elevation of 2000 meters above sea level, are located to the north. The Ruvuma River cuts across the lower plains in the region's south. The region has diverse topology. While the Lukumburu and Matengo mountains' northern and western portions climb to a height of 2,000 meters above sea level, the region's eastern lowlands are only 300 meters above sea level. Climate Depending on the wet or dry season and altitude, the average temperature in the Ruvuma Region is 23°C. With lows of 13°C, the months of June, July, and August are particularly frigid in the Mbinga District's sections near the Matengo Highlands. The hottest months are October and November, which have an average temperature of 30°C. The area receives enough rainfall each year, excluding tough years. The annual cycle of rainfall shows a single, extended season that runs from November to May. The annual rainfall ranges from 800 to 1800 millimeters. The amount of rain varies from one district