Kindu
Kindu | |
|---|---|
 A street in Kindu | |
| Country |  Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Province | Maniema |
| Area | |
| • Total | 150 km2 (60 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 504 m (1,654 ft) |
| Population (2012) | |
| • Total | 172,321 |
| • Density | 1,100/km2 (3,000/sq mi) |
| National language | Swahili |
Kindu is a city in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the capital of Maniema province. It has a population of about 200,000 and is situated on the Lualaba River at an altitude of about 500 metres, and is about 400 km west of Bukavu.
Kindu is linked by rail to the mining areas of Kalemie, Kamina and Kananga to the south. It also has an airport with a 2,200 metre runway and has historically been an important port along the Congo River system.
History
The town was an important centre for the ivory, gold and the slave trade during the nineteenth century. Arab-Swahili slave traders were based here from about 1860 and sent caravans overland to Zanzibar.[1]
Henry Morton Stanley came upon "this remarkable town" on 5 Dec. 1876, describing it as "remarkably long" with a "broad street, thirty feet wide, and two miles in length" and "behind the village were the banana and the palm groves."[2]: Vol.Two, 132–133
In November 1961, during the Congo Crisis, the Kindu atrocity took place in Kindu. During the rule of Mobutu Sese Seko Kindu was also the former capital of Nord-Kivu subregion of Kivu region.
Geography
Kindu is located 2°57′S, 25°55′E at an elevation of approximately 1500 ft (450 m) above sea level.
Demographics
The city's population is estimated at between 140,000[3] and 200,000[4] residents. As with the rest of Congo, the vast majority adhere to a Christian denomination or sect. Just under half of the population is Catholic.[5] Slightly under 10% of the population are Anglican[4] and there is also a small Muslim community in the city.
Economy
The main economic activity in Maniema Province is mining. diamonds, copper, gold and cobalt are mined outside of Kindu.[6] There is also a market in Kindu as well as shops throughout the town.
Government and Politics
Kindu is the provincial capital and is home to the provincial assembly and ministries.
Transportation
Kindu is served by Kindu Airport. Most of the goods coming to town come from Goma, Bukavu and Kinshasa by air.
It is also served by the Congo Railway which connects it to Lubumbashi among other destinations.[citation needed]
There is also a port in Kindu which is located on the western bank of the Lualaba River.
Roads in Maniema Province are unsurfaced and in a generally poor condition.
Education
The town has primary and secondary education facilities. The University of Kindu is also located in the city.
Climate
| Climate data for Kindu | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 30 (86) |
31 (87) |
31 (87) |
31 (87) |
31 (88) |
31 (87) |
29 (84) |
30 (86) |
31 (87) |
31 (87) |
31 (87) |
30 (86) |
31 (87) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 21 (70) |
21 (69) |
21 (70) |
21 (70) |
21 (70) |
20 (68) |
19 (67) |
20 (68) |
20 (68) |
21 (69) |
21 (69) |
21 (70) |
21 (69) |
| Average precipitation cm (inches) | 18 (7) |
15 (6) |
19 (7.6) |
16 (6.2) |
11 (4.2) |
3.0 (1.2) |
3.3 (1.3) |
7.1 (2.8) |
11 (4.3) |
16 (6.2) |
20 (7.8) |
21 (8.2) |
160 (62.8) |
| Source: Weatherbase [7] | |||||||||||||
See also
References
- ^ The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica
- ^ Stanley, H.M., 1899, Through the Dark Continent, London: G. Newnes, Vol. One ISBN 0486256677, Vol. Two ISBN 0486256685
- ^ Geonames 2013 calculation
- ^ a b Diocese of Kindu
- ^ Lavigerie : Site officiel des Missionnaires d'Afrique (Soeurs Blanches et Pères Blancs belges) - Notre confrère Willy Ngumbi, nouvel évêque du diocèse de Kindu, R.D.C.
- ^ Maniemamining LTD, 2014
- ^ "Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Kindu, Democratic Republic of the Congo". Weatherbase. 2011. Retrieved on November 24, 2011.
External links
- "Villes de RD Congo - Kindu" (in French). MONUC. 2006-05-29. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
- Repairs to railway
Capitals of the provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo | ||
|---|---|---|
| | |
Provinces are shown between brackets | ||