Garoua

Garoua was established by the Fulani emir Modibbo Adama in the first half of the 19th century. During the steamship era, it developed into a major river port.{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Garoua|title=Garoua|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=29 October 2016}}

The population of the city was 30,000 in 1967.Mark Dike DeLancey, Rebecca Neh Mbuh, Mark W. Delancey, Historical Dictionary of the Republic of Cameroon, Scarecrow Press, USA, 2010, p. 189

Garoua is situated in northern Cameroon, and lies on the Benue River. It serves as the gateway to Benoue National Park.{{cite book|last=Ham|first=Anthony|title=West Africa|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1HapewBo3c0C&pg=PA207|year=2009|publisher=Lonely Planet|isbn=978-1-74104-821-6|page=207}} Neighborhoods include Commercial Centre, Lopere, Quartier de Marouare, Poumpoumre, Roumde Adjia and the northwestern suburb of Yelwa, near Garoua International Airport.{{Google maps | url =https://www.google.com/maps/@9.3280221,13.4041372,3258m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en | access-date =29 October 2016}}

Garoua has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen Aw), with a wet season and a dry season and the temperature being hot year-round. The average temperature in Garoua ranges from {{convert|26.0|C|F|abbr=on}} in December and January, the coolest months, to {{convert|33.0|C|F|abbr=on}} in April, the hottest month. The hottest time of year is in March and April, just before the wet season starts. March has the highest average high at {{convert|39.8|C|F|abbr=on}}, while the highest average low is {{convert|26.4|C|F|abbr=on}} in April. August has the lowest average high at {{convert|30.7|C|F|abbr=on}}, while December has the lowest average low at {{convert|17.3|C|F|abbr=on}}.

Garoua receives {{convert|997.4|mm}} of rain over 88 precipitation days, with a distinct wet and dry season like most tropical savanna climates. December, January and February receive no precipitation at all. August, the wettest month, receives {{convert|247.9|mm}} of rainfall on average. September has 24 precipitation days, which is the most of any month. Garoua receives 2927.1 hours of sunshine annually on average, with the sunshine being distributed evenly across the year, although it is lower during the wet season.

{{Weather box|width = auto

|location = Garoua

|single line = Yes

|metric first = Yes

|Jan high C = 34.4

|Feb high C = 37.3

|Mar high C = 39.8

|Apr high C = 39.5

|May high C = 36.5

|Jun high C = 33.2

|Jul high C = 31.1

|Aug high C = 30.7

|Sep high C = 31.5

|Oct high C = 34.2

|Nov high C = 36.0

|Dec high C = 34.8

|year high C = 34.9

|Jan mean C = 26.0

|Feb mean C = 28.9

|Mar mean C = 32.2

|Apr mean C = 33.0

|May mean C = 30.7

|Jun mean C = 28.2

|Jul mean C = 26.6

|Aug mean C = 26.4

|Sep mean C = 26.7

|Oct mean C = 28.1

|Nov mean C = 27.3

|Dec mean C = 26.0

|year mean C = 28.3

|Jan low C = 17.5

|Feb low C = 20.5

|Mar low C = 24.7

|Apr low C = 26.4

|May low C = 24.9

|Jun low C = 23.2

|Jul low C = 22.2

|Aug low C = 22.0

|Sep low C = 21.9

|Oct low C = 22.2

|Nov low C = 19.2

|Dec low C = 17.3

|year low C = 21.8

|rain colour = green

|Jan rain mm = 0.0

|Feb rain mm = 0.0

|Mar rain mm = 2.0

|Apr rain mm = 44.1

|May rain mm = 108.4

|Jun rain mm = 134.8

|Jul rain mm = 205.3

|Aug rain mm = 247.9

|Sep rain mm = 190.0

|Oct rain mm = 63.3

|Nov rain mm = 1.6

|Dec rain mm = 0.0

|unit rain days = 1.0 mm

|Jan rain days = 0

|Feb rain days = 0

|Mar rain days = 1

|Apr rain days = 5

|May rain days = 9

|Jun rain days = 11

|Jul rain days = 14

|Aug rain days = 17

|Sep rain days = 24

|Oct rain days = 6

|Nov rain days = 1

|Dec rain days = 0

|Jan sun = 275.0

|Feb sun = 252.6

|Mar sun = 260.1

|Apr sun = 245.4

|May sun = 256.7

|Jun sun = 224.4

|Jul sun = 194.0

|Aug sun = 187.2

|Sep sun = 204.5

|Oct sun = 261.5

|Nov sun = 279.2

|Dec sun = 286.5

|year sun = 2927.1

|source 1 = NOAA{{cite web

| url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG__I/KM/64860.TXT

| title = Garoua Climate Normals 1961–1990

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210303100123/ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG__I/KM/64860.TXT

| archive-date = 2021-03-03

| url-status = dead

| access-date = March 8, 2015}}

|date=November 2011

}}

In 2005, Garoua had a population of 495,996 people. The city is inhabited by the Fulbe ethnic group.{{cite book|last=Drønen|first=Tomas Sundnes|title=Communication and Conversion in Northern Cameroon: The Dii People and Norwegian Missionaries, 1934-1960|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PT-xCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA40|date=31 August 2009|publisher=BRILL|isbn=978-90-474-3098-8|page=40}} Due to a significant number of Chadian expatriates in the city, there is a Chadian Consulate here.

As the fourth largest port in Cameroon,{{cite book|last=Trillo|first=Richard|title=The Rough Guide to West Africa|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=clU65BAfOmUC&pg=PT3028|date=2 June 2008|publisher=Rough Guides Limited|isbn=978-1-4053-8068-3|page=3028}} Garoua is a major center of trade in the country.{{cite book|title=Georgia (Republic) Export-Import Trade and Business Directory|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qlArJ3yV4rUC&pg=PA97|date=October 2005|publisher=International Business Publications|isbn=978-0-7397-3267-0|page=97}} It developed as a centre for trade in petroleum, cement, hides, peanuts, and cotton, transported on ships along the Benue River, between Burutu in Nigeria. It has long been a thriving centre of the cotton industry and houses several textile processing facilities and factories.{{cite book|last=Ndenecho|first=Emmanuel Neba|title=Decentralisation and Spatial Rural Development Planning in Cameroon|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6KkL0YxFxPsC&pg=PA76|year=2011|publisher=African Books Collective|isbn=978-9956-717-66-8|page=76}} The cotton company Sodecoton has one of its major centres in the city.{{cite book|last=Raimond|first=Christine|title=Ressources vivrières et choix alimentaires dans le bassin du lac Tchad|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-B4VObZQ11gC&pg=PA202|date=8 October 2013|publisher=IRD Editions|isbn=978-2-7099-1576-2|page=202}} Leatherwork and fishing are also notable industries.

Roumdé Adjia Stadium was one of the arenas hosting the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

==Places of worship==

Among the places of worship, there are, predominantly, Muslim mosques. There are also Christian churches and temples: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Garoua (Catholic Church), Evangelical Church of Cameroon (World Communion of Reformed Churches), Presbyterian Church in Cameroon (World Communion of Reformed Churches), Cameroon Baptist Convention (Baptist World Alliance), Full Gospel Mission Cameroon (Assemblies of God).J. Gordon Melton, Martin Baumann, ‘‘Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices’’, ABC-CLIO, USA, 2010, p. 484-486

Garoua is served by Garoua International Airport.

{{cite book|title=Africa Review 2003/04: The Economic and Business Report|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nDSR1FF2hY8C&pg=PA44|year=2003|publisher=Kogan Page Publishers|isbn=978-0-7494-4065-7|page=44}} The United States military uses the airport as a base to conduct unmanned aerial vehicle operations.{{Cite web| last = Hammer| first = Joshua| title = Hunting Boko Haram: The U.S. Extends Its Drone War Deeper Into Africa With Secretive Base| work = The Intercept| date = 2016-02-25|url=https://theintercept.com/2016/02/25/us-extends-drone-war-deeper-into-africa-with-secretive-base/}} The city lies on National Highway 1, at a junction of the road between Maroua and Ngaoundéré. The main road leading north through the town and past the airport is called Rue de la Gendarmerie.

• Goggo Addi (1911–1999), storyteller who worked to preserve Fulani cultural heritage{{Cite book|last=Baumgardt|first=Ursula|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/45647204|title=Une conteuse peule et son répertoire : Goggo Addi de Garoua, Cameroun : textes et analyses|date=2000|publisher=Karthala|others=Goggo Addi|isbn=2-84586-104-4|location=Paris|oclc=45647204}}

• Ahmadou Ahidjo (1924–1989), first president of Cameroon{{cite book|last1=Appiah|first1=Anthony|last2=Gates|first2=Henry Louis|title=Encyclopedia of Africa|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A0XNvklcqbwC&pg=PA73|year=2010|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-533770-9|page=73}}
• Youssoufa Daoua (in French) (1947–2015), politician
• Gautier Bello (born 1983), footballer
• Vincent Aboubakar (born 1992), professional footballer

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{{Capitals of Regions of Cameroon}}

{{Communes of North Region, Cameroon}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Populated places in North Region (Cameroon)

Category:Provincial capitals in Cameroon

Category:Benue River