Lastoursville
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name = Lastoursville
|other_name = Mandji
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|pushpin_map = Gabon
|pushpin_label_position =bottom
|pushpin_mapsize =300
|pushpin_map_caption =Location in Gabon
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = {{flag|Gabon}}
|subdivision_type1 = Province
|subdivision_name1 = Ogooué-Lolo Province
|subdivision_type2 = Department
|subdivision_name2 = Mulundu
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Lastoursville or Mandji is a city in east-central Gabon, lying on the Ogooué River, the Trans-Gabon Railway and the N3 road. It was founded as a slave depot named Mandji, renamed Maadiville in 1883 before being named for François Rigail de Lastours in 1886. It grew around palm oil production and as an administrative centre, and soon became a major missionary centre. The town is also known for its caves.
The town lies at an elevation of 206 m.
Caves
Occupying a 90-sq-km site, there are more than 40 caves identified,{{Cite conference| publisher = Agence Nationale des Parcs Nationaux, Gabon| pages = 85| last1 = Oslisly| first1 = Richard| last2 = Testa| first2 = Olivier| title = Recherches scientifiques dans les cavités de Lastoursville et mise en valeur de la grotte de Boukama - Rapport annuel 2016 (85p)| location = Libreville, Gabon| date = 2017-01-01}} located in dense primary rainforest close to town. Traces of human activity dates back 7000 years, when the caves were used in rituals.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lonelyplanet.com/gabon/attractions/lastoursville-caves/a/poi-sig/1563090/355302|title=Lastoursville Caves | Gabon Attractions}}
World Heritage Status
The caves were added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List on October 20, 2005 in the Mixed (Cultural + Natural) category.[https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/2059/ Grottes de Lastourville - UNESCO World Heritage Centre]
Climate
{{Weather box
| width = auto
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| location = Lastourville (1961–1990)
| Jan high C = 29.8
| Feb high C = 30.5
| Mar high C = 30.9
| Apr high C = 30.7
| May high C = 29.7
| Jun high C = 28.1
| Jul high C = 26.7
| Aug high C = 27.2
| Sep high C = 28.3
| Oct high C = 29.7
| Nov high C = 28.5
| Dec high C = 28.2
| year high C = 29.0
| Jan mean C = 25.6
| Feb mean C = 25.9
| Mar mean C = 26.1
| Apr mean C = 26.1
| May mean C = 25.6
| Jun mean C = 24.4
| Jul mean C = 23.2
| Aug mean C = 23.6
| Sep mean C = 24.1
| Oct mean C = 25.3
| Nov mean C = 24.3
| Dec mean C = 24.3
| year mean C = 24.8
| Jan low C = 21.3
| Feb low C = 21.3
| Mar low C = 21.3
| Apr low C = 21.4
| May low C = 21.4
| Jun low C = 20.6
| Jul low C = 19.6
| Aug low C = 19.9
| Sep low C = 19.9
| Oct low C = 20.9
| Nov low C = 20.1
| Dec low C = 20.3
| year low C = 20.7
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 129.6
| Feb precipitation mm = 138.8
| Mar precipitation mm = 212.3
| Apr precipitation mm = 132.4
| May precipitation mm = 192.9
| Jun precipitation mm = 42.1
| Jul precipitation mm = 5.5
| Aug precipitation mm = 19.6
| Sep precipitation mm = 129.0
| Oct precipitation mm = 291.0
| Nov precipitation mm = 277.7
| Dec precipitation mm = 108.9
| year precipitation mm = 1679.8
| Jan rain days = 9.6
| Feb rain days = 10.1
| Mar rain days = 13.5
| Apr rain days = 13.0
| May rain days = 13.9
| Jun rain days = 4.6
| Jul rain days = 2.0
| Aug rain days = 2.7
| Sep rain days = 9.3
| Oct rain days = 18.1
| Nov rain days = 18.1
| Dec rain days = 12.2
| year rain days = 127.1
| Jan humidity = 83
| Feb humidity = 81
| Mar humidity = 81
| Apr humidity = 79
| May humidity = 83
| Jun humidity = 85
| Jul humidity = 85
| Aug humidity = 83
| Sep humidity = 81
| Oct humidity = 82
| Nov humidity = 83
| Dec humidity = 84
| year humidity = 82
| Jan sun = 149.8
| Feb sun = 150.5
| Mar sun = 166.1
| Apr sun = 158.1
| May sun = 148.9
| Jun sun = 114.2
| Jul sun = 80.1
| Aug sun = 74.2
| Sep sun = 106.1
| Oct sun = 136.0
| Nov sun = 134.9
| Dec sun = 135.5
| year sun = 1554.4
| source 1 = NOAA{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1961-1990/RA-I/GN/64560.TXT
|title = Station Name: Lastourville
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|format = TXT
|access-date = 22 August 2024}}
}}
Notes
{{Reflist}}
References
- [https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/2059/ Grottes de Lastourville - UNESCO World Heritage Centre] Retrieved 2009-03-19.
- [https://www.grottes-de-lastoursville.org Lastoursville caves website www.grottes-de-lastoursville.org]
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|0|49|S|12|42|E|region:GA_type:city|display=title}}
Category:Populated places in Ogooué-Lolo Province
Category:Mouloundou Department
{{Gabon-geo-stub}}