View source for Iringa

{{Short description|City in Iringa Region, Tanzania}}
{{about|the city|the region of Tanzania|Iringa Region|the municipal administrative district|Iringa Urban|the rural administrative district|Iringa Rural}}
{{distinguish|Iriga}} 
{{Infobox settlement
<!--See the Table at Infobox Settlement for all fields and descriptions of usage-->
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->
|official_name          = Iringa
|native_name            = Lilinga ([[Hehe language|Hehe]])
|nickname               = Home of the Brave
|settlement_type        =   [[List of cities in Tanzania|City]] of [[Iringa Region]]
|motto                  =
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|image_skyline          =iringa.JPG
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|image_caption          = Hilltop view of Iringa
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|pushpin_map_caption    =Location in Tanzania
<!-- Location ------------------>
|subdivision_type       = Country
|subdivision_name       = {{flag|Tanzania}}
|subdivision_type1      = [[Regions of Tanzania|Region]]
|subdivision_name1      = [[Iringa Region|Iringa]]
|subdivision_type2      =[[Districts of Tanzania|District]]
|subdivision_name2      = [[Iringa Urban]]
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|government_type        = Democratic
|leader_title           = (Member of Parliament)
|leader_name            = Jesca Msambatavangu
|leader_title1          =  <!-- for places with, say, both a mayor and a city manager --> Region commissioner
|leader_name1           =Queen Sendiga

|leader_title2          = District commissioner
|leader_name2           = Richard Kasesela
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|population_as_of               = 2022 census
|population_footnotes           = <ref name=pop>[https://www.citypopulation.de/en/tanzania/cities/ Citypopulation.de] Population of cities & urban localities in Tanzania</ref>
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|population_total               = 202490
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|coordinates            = {{coord|7|46|S|35|42|E|region:TZ|display=inline}}
|timezone               =[[East Africa Time]] 
|utc_offset             = +3
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|blank_name             = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
|blank_info             = [[Hot semi-arid climate|BSh]]
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}}

'''Iringa''' is a city in [[Tanzania]] with a population of 202,490 ({{As of|2022|lc=on}})<ref name=pop/>  and situated at a [[latitude]] of 7.77°S and [[longitude]] of 35.69°E. The name is derived from the [[Hehe language|Hehe]] word ''lilinga'', meaning [[fort]].<ref>{{cite web | last=Africa | first=Nomad | title=Iringa | url=http://www.nomadtours.co.za/page/iringa | publisher=nomadtours | access-date=24 May 2013 | archive-date=28 March 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328135347/http://www.nomadtours.co.za/page/iringa | url-status=dead }}</ref> Iringa is the administrative capital of [[Iringa Region]]. Iringa Municipal Council is the administrative designation of the Municipality of Iringa.
Iringa has been one of the coldest regions in Tanzania due to its geographical location but that has attracted a lot of tourists from colder regions abroad especially Western Europe. Iringa also hosts one of Africa’s largest national parks the [[Ruaha National Park]].

==Geography==
The town stretches along a hilltop overlooking the [[Little Ruaha River]] to the south, and spreads along ridges and valleys to the north. Iringa is in the [[Udzungwa Mountains]], and the altitude of the town's environs is more than {{convert|1550|m|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 {{convert|502|km|mi|sp=us}}, via [[Morogoro]].

===Climate===
Iringa has a fairly dry climate with mild-to-warm temperatures year round. Iringa has a wet season from December to April, and a nearly rainless period from June to September. Its climate is classified by [[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] as a [[hot semi-arid climate]] (''BSh'').
{{Weather box
|location = Iringa (1991–2020)
|single line = Yes
|metric first = Yes
|Jan high C = 26.7
|Feb high C = 26.9
|Mar high C = 27.0
|Apr high C = 26.4
|May high C = 26.2
|Jun high C = 25.4
|Jul high C = 24.7
|Aug high C = 25.7
|Sep high C = 27.5
|Oct high C = 28.8
|Nov high C = 29.4
|Dec high C = 28.0
|year high C = 26.9
|Jan low C = 16.7
|Feb low C = 16.2
|Mar low C = 15.9
|Apr low C = 15.7
|May low C = 14.6
|Jun low C = 13.0
|Jul low C = 12.4
|Aug low C = 12.6
|Sep low C = 13.5
|Oct low C = 15.0
|Nov low C = 16.2
|Dec low C = 16.6
|year low C = 14.9
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 147.3
|Feb rain mm = 130.2
|Mar rain mm = 128.0
|Apr rain mm = 57.7
|May rain mm = 13.1
|Jun rain mm = 0.5
|Jul rain mm = 0.0
|Aug rain mm = 0.0
|Sep rain mm = 0.6
|Oct rain mm = 4.8
|Nov rain mm = 28.0
|Dec rain mm = 121.8
|year rain mm = 632.0
| unit rain days = 1.0 mm
| Jan rain days = 13.3
| Feb rain days = 10.9
| Mar rain days = 11.7
| Apr rain days = 7.5
| May rain days = 2.0
| Jun rain days = 0.1
| Jul rain days = 0.0
| Aug rain days = 0.0
| Sep rain days = 0.1
| Oct rain days = 0.5
| Nov rain days = 2.8
| Dec rain days = 10.4
| year rain days = 59.3
|source = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref name=WMOCLINO>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230916044549/https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-1-WMO-Normals-9120/Tanzania/CSV/IRINGA_63887.csv
| archive-date = 16 September 2023
| url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-1-WMO-Normals-9120/Tanzania/CSV/IRINGA_63887.csv
| title = Iringa Climate Normals 1991–2020
| work = World Meteorological Organization Climatological Standard Normals (1991–2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = 16 September 2023}}</ref>
|date=November 2011
}}

==History==
The [[Isimila Stone Age site]], which lies about {{convert|20|km|mi|abbr=on}} to the southwest, contains archeological artifacts, particularly stone tools, from human habitation about 70,000 years ago.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Howell|first=F. Clark|date=1961|title=Isimila: A Paleolithic Site in Africa|journal=Scientific American|volume=205|issue=4|pages=118–131|issn=0036-8733|jstor=24937108|doi=10.1038/scientificamerican1061-118|bibcode=1961SciAm.205d.118H}}</ref>

Iringa Region is home to the [[Hehe people]]. After their 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.

==Education==
[[File:University of Iringa Library.jpg|thumb|[[University 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 Catholic University (RUCU)). There are also secondary schools like Tosamaganga high school, Malangali high school, Iringa girls' secondary school, Ifunda technical school and [[Ruaha Secondary School]].

==Economy==
[[file:Main road, Iringa.jpg|thumb|Main road with the clock tower in Iringa city]]
The trans-African automobile route — the [[Cairo-Cape Town Highway]] passes through Iringa. Iringa has a well-established industrial base, including food processing and logistics industries. Most of its electricity comes from the nearby [[Mtera Dam]]. Iringa is a minor transport hub for regular bus travelers. It is a center for trucking services to [[Dar es Salaam]], [[Mbeya]], [[Songea]], and [[Dodoma]] and other regions of [[Tanzania]]. It is also a servicing town for trucks going to neighboring countries such as [[Zambia]], [[Democratic Republic of Congo]], [[Malawi]], [[Burundi]] and other [[East African Community|EAC]] countries.

==Crafts==
Iringa is known for its woven baskets, made from local reeds. The baskets are used across Tanzania and exported internationally.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://csditz.org/index.php?pg=nws|title=CSDI TANZANIA|website=csditz.org|access-date=2019-10-29}}</ref> The city is also known for the award-winning [http://www.neemacrafts.com Neema Crafts Centre.]

==Media==
[[File:Iringa Cemetery.jpg|thumb|Iringa Commonwealth War Cemetery]]
{{unreferenced section|date=May 2013}}

Iringa municipality has seven FM radio stations: Trap Gang Radio, Ebony FM, Shamba FM Radio, Nuru FM (youth entertainment and commercial radios), Overcomers Radio and Radio Furaha (Christian stations), Kibra Ten Radio (a Muslim station). There are other radio stations elsewhere in Iringa region, such as Kitulo community radio in Makete and another FM radio station in Njombe.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tcra.go.tz/index.php/licensing/licensed-operators/2-tcra/46-radio|title=Radio|website=tcra.go.tz|access-date=2019-10-29}}</ref>

Iringa has one TV station: Municipal Television, a multi-age TV station with diversified programmes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://tanzania.misa.org/media-directory/|title=Media directory|last=Tanzania|first=MISA|website=MISA Tanzania|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-29}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{wikivoyage|Iringa}}

{{Coord|7.77|S|35.69|E|display=title}}

{{Cities in Tanzania}}
{{Districts of Iringa}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Populated places in Iringa Region]]
[[Category:Regional capitals in Tanzania]]