Kilwa Kisiwani (Kilwa Island) is an island, national historic site, and hamlet community located in the township of Kilwa Masoko, the district seat of Kilwa District in the Tanzanian region of Lindi Region in southern Tanzania. Kilwa Kisiwani is the largest of the nine hamlets in the town Kilwa Masoko and is also the least populated hamlet in the township with less than 1,000 residents. At its peak Kilwa hosted over 10,000 inhabitants in the Middle Ages. Since 1981 the entire island of Kilwa Kisiwani has been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site along with the nearby ruins of Songo Mnara. Despite its significant historic reputation, Kilwa Kisiwani is still home to a small and resilient community of native residents that have inhabited the island for centuries. Kilwa Kisiwani is one of the seven World Heritage Sites located in Tanzania. Additionally, the site is a registered National Historic Site. Geography Kilwa Kisiwani Island lies exactly at 9 degrees south of the equator. The island is in circumference with the total land area is . On the west part of the Island is the Mavuji River estuary. On the south part of the Island lies the Sagarungu sound and to the east lies the Indian Ocean. Economy The island is located with the Kilwa Masoko township authority. The main economic activities on the island are Cultural tourism, fishing and subsistence agriculture. Economic growth is limited due to limited accessibility to the island. The island has no rivers and the main source for water is wells. Many of the island's freshwater wells have been used for over a millennium. The island is served by small boats to and from the port at Kilwa Masoko. The island's only electricity is solar based and low capacity. There are no roads on the island thus most transport is on foot or by motorcycle. To protect the historic integrity of the Island, non-island residents are strictly prohibited from visiting the island without a visitor's permit from the tourist information center in downtown Kilwa Masoko. Much of the historical artifacts and buildings on the island are yet to be unearthed. Historical Significance of Kilwa Island Kilwa Kisiwani is also an archaeological Swahili city-state site located along the Swahili Coast on the Kilwa Archipelago. It was occupied by (possibly) Mwera people from the mainland from at least the 8th century CE and eventually became one of