Iringa

This article is about the region. For the region of Tanzania, see Iringa Region. For the municipal administrative district, see Iringa Urban. For the rural administrative district, see Iringa Rural.

Iringa
A view of Iringa from a hill top.
Iringa Location of Iringa Iringa Iringa (Africa) Iringa Iringa (Earth)
Coordinates: 7°46′S 35°42′E
Country	Tanzania
Region	Iringa
District	Iringa Urban
Government
• Type	democratic
Population  (2012)
• Total	151,345
Time zone	UTC+3 (East Africa Time)
Area code	026
Climate	Cwb
Website	www.tanzania.go.tz

Iringa region in Tanzania with a population of 112,900 (as of 2004). It is situated at a latitude of 7.77°S and longitude of 35.69°E. The name is derived from the Hehe word lilinga, meaning fort.

Iringa is the administrative capital of Iringa Region. It has many established industries, including manufacturing and food processing. Most of its electricity comes from the nearby Mtera Dam. Iringa is a minor transport hub, with regular bus service and trucking to Dar es Salaam, Mbeya, Songea, and Dodoma.

Also, the Iringa region has its own website: iringa.go.tz

History

After their stunning defeat at Lugalo by the Hehe, led by Chief Mkwawa, the Germans built a military station at 'Neu Iringa' to avenge the death of their commander Emil Von Zelewski and to teach the Hehe respect for German authority. The fortress and headquarters of Chief Mkwawa was in the nearby village of Kalenga, Alt Iringa. The town stretches along a hilltop overlooking the Ruaha River to the south, and spreads along ridges and valleys to the north. The altitude of the town's environs is more than 1,550 metres (5,090 ft) above sea level. The months of June, July, and August can see low temperatures near freezing. The Tanzam Highway passes through the valley below the town; the highway distance from Iringa's limits to Dar es Salaam is 502 kilometers (312 mi), via Morogoro. The Isimila Stone Age site, which lies about 20 km (12 mi) to the southwest, contains archeological artifacts, particularly stone tools, from human habitation about 70,000 years ago.

Iringa Urban Municipality is the administrative designation of the Municipality of Iringa.

Iringa has several institutions of higher education, including Tumaini University, Iringa University College, Mkwawa University College of Education (a constituent college of the University of Dar es Salaam), and Ruaha University College (a constituent college of Saint Augustine University of Tanzania). Schools include Tosamaganga High School and Ruaha Secondary School..

Climate

Climate data for Iringa
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	25 (77)	25 (77)	25 (77)	24 (76)	24 (75)	23 (73)	23 (74)	23 (74)	25 (77)	27 (81)	28 (82)	26 (79)	25 (77)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	15 (59)	14 (58)	14 (58)	15 (59)	14 (57)	12 (53)	12 (53)	12 (53)	12 (54)	13 (56)	14 (58)	15 (59)	13 (56)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	180 (6.9)	130 (5)	170 (6.8)	89 (3.5)	13 (0.5)	2.5 (0.1)	0 (0)	0 (0)	2.5 (0.1)	5.1 (0.2)	38 (1.5)	120 (4.7)	740 (29.2)
Source: Weatherbase

Crafts

Iringa is famous for its woven baskets, made from local reeds. The baskets are used across Tanzania and also exported internationally. The city is also well known for its award-winning Neema Crafts Centre.

Iringa media

Iringa Commonwealth War Cemetery

Radio Stations

Iringa municipality at the moment has the seven FM radio stations as follows:

1. Trap Gang Radio
2. Ebony FM
3. Country FM and
4. Nuru FM (youth entertainment and commercial radios)
5. Overcomers Radio
6. Radio Furaha (Christian stations)
7. Kibra Ten Radio (a Muslim station).

There are other radio stations elsewhere in Iringa region, such as Kituro community radio in Makete and another FM radio station in Njombe.

Television Stations

Iringa has one TV station: Municipal Television, a multi-age TV station with diversified programmes.