Kolda

Kolda
—  Town  —
Kolda
Coordinates: 12°53′N 14°57′W
Country	Senegal
Region	Kolda Region
Government
• Mayor	Bécaye Diop
Elevation	0 m m (0 ft ft)
Population (2007)
• Total	62,258
• Density	556/km2 (1,440/sq mi)
Time zone	GMT (UTC+0)

Kolda is a city located in southern Senegal. It is the capital city of Kolda Region, a region known historically and popularly as Haute Casamance.

Administration

Kolda is the chief city of Kolda Department and of the Kolda Region.

Geography

The local administrative areas include Gaide, Sikilo, Faraba, Faramba and Sisal.

Physical Geology and Climate

Both vegetation and rainfall are abundant in Kolda. The wet season lasts for five months, from June through October. The dry season begins in November and ends in May.

The annual average temperature is 81.9°F with an a maximum of 94.8°F in April, May and October, and a minimum of 68.7°F in January and August.

Population

Most recently, as of 1988 and 2002, Kolda's population was 34,337 and 53,921 inhabitants respectively. In 2007, official estimations, brought the population to 62,258 inhabitants. The majority of the population is made up of members of the Fula ethnic group. There are also members of the Mandinke and Jola ethnic groups.

Economy

A Center of Zootechniques Research (CRZ) was established in Kolda in 1972.

Cuisine

The Hotel Hobbe serves a variety of very well prepared western dishes which are quite highly priced. It should be noted that one should order appetizers from the pool bar and not from the kitchen as there have been incidents of miscommunication in the past notes, according to Oregonian Austin Peterson. The bar Keur Koumba Balde located downtown near the Credit Agricolae serves delicious brochettes at an affordable price at night, with delectable accompanying sauces. Also downtown, for those whose hunger piques in the late night, a Wolof-speaking women serves chicken sandwiches with lettuce, tomato and pommes frites and addendum for around 800 CFA across from the Oil Libya station. If one's hunger dictates a simple dish of meat, potatoes and onions garnished sometimes with fresh tomatoes but always with tapalapa bread, there is a nice establishment 100 meters south on the eastern side of the road below the Total station by the bridge over the Casamances river. The price is a mere 1000 CFA.

The central market in Kolda (September 2007).

Notable individuals from Kolda

• Bécaye Diop, minister of State, and Minister of the Armed Forces, maire de kolda
• Massamba Sambou, Football player
• Souleymane Diamanka, poet
• General Ameth Fall
• Sada Kane, journalist
• barou balde 1 adjoin du maire