Iringa Region
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Iringa Region Mkoa wa Iringa (Swahili) |
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|---|---|
| Region | |
Tea fields in Mufindi
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 Regional map before partition in 2012 |
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| Country | Tanzania |
| Zone | Southern Highlands |
| Capital | Iringa |
| Government | |
| • Regional Commissioner | Amina Mesenza |
| Area | |
| • Total | 35,743 km2 (13,800 sq mi) |
| Population (2012) | |
| • Total | 941,238 |
| • Density | 26/km2 (68/sq mi) |
| Time zone | EAT (UTC+3) |
| Postcode | 51xxx |
| Area code(s) | 026 |
| Website | iringa |
Iringa is one of Tanzania's thirty administrative regions. The regional capital is Iringa. The region's population is 941,238. It is primarily agricultural and boasts the second-highest per-capita GDP in the country.
Iringa Region is home to Ruaha National Park, Tanzania's second largest park, which has an abundance of wildlife.
The Regional Commissioner of the Iringa Region is Amina Mesenza.
Iringa region has a total area of 35,743 square kilometres (13,800 sq mi). (Socio-economic profile:3) It is surrounded by Singida and Dodoma in the north, Morogoro to its west, Mbeya to its east and Njombe towards the south.(Socio-economic profile:1)
The region is drained by the Little Ruaha and the Great Ruaha rivers. The lake created by the Mtera Dam is the other significant water body here.(Socio-economic profile:3)
The region can be divided into three zones - highland, midland and lowland. The highland zone is towards the east of the region. This area experiences a rainy season between November and May with annual precipitation ranging from 500–1,500 mm (20–59 in). The period between June and September is cold and dry. The midland zone, in the central part of the region, lies at a height of 1,200–1,600 m (3,900–5,200 ft) above sea level and faces between 600–1,000 mm (24–39 in) of rain every year. Finally, the lowland zone, at a height of 900–1,200 m (3,000–3,900 ft) gets between 500–600 mm (20–24 in) of rain per annum.(Socio-economic profile:9-11)
About 16% of the land in Iringa region is forested.(Socio-economic profile:103) The region is host to the Ruaha National Park, famous for its large herd of elephants and over 400 species of birds. Other animals include lions, sable antelopes and kudu.(Socio-economic profile:112-113) A second park, Udzungwa Mountains National Park in Iringa Rural District, is less visited.
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Wikipedia