The capital of Tanzania is Dodoma. While Dar es Salaam was the largest city and the previous capital, the government officially designated Dodoma as the capital in 1974. This decision was made to centralize the government and bring it closer to the geographical center of the country. Dodoma is located in the center of Tanzania and serves as the political hub, housing many governmental institutions, including the National Assembly. The city is also known for its surrounding mountains and dry climate.