Arusha

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Arusha

Arusha is the capital of the Arusha Region, located in the north of Tanzania. It has a population of 270,485 (2002 census). This city is located on a plateau in the Great Rift Valley amidst the Serengeti Plain, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, Olduvai Gorge, Tarangire National Park, and Mount Kilimanjaro National Park.

Geography and climate

By the foot of Mount Meru, its climate is relatively cool and humidity low.

Modern history

Official documents ceding independence to Tanzania were signed by the United Kingdom at Arusha in 1961.

The Arusha Declarations for Self Reliance in Tanzania were signed in 1967 in Arusha.

The Arusha Accords were signed at Arusha on August 4, 1993 by representatives of competing factions in the Rwandan civil war.

In 1995 the UN security council decided that Arusha should host the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. The establishment of the tribunal with its employees has influenced the local economy of Arusha. The tribunal is expected to end its normal work in 2008 with two more subsequent years for appeals handling.

Arusha officially becomes a city on 1st July 2006 (Source: Arusha Times http://www.arushatimes.co.tz/2006/19) .

Industry and economy

The primary industry of the region is agriculture, with large vegetable and flower producers sending high-quality produce to Europe. Small-scale agricuture was badly hit by the coffee crisis of recent years and is now largely subsistence farming. Arusha has several factories including a brewery, tyre and fibreboard plant, and a large pharmaceuticals maker.

One of the principal industries is tourism, with the city playing host to numerous safari companies, hotels and lodges.

Districts

Among Arusha's notable districts are the Central Business Area, located by the Clocktower, Sekei in the North-West which is largely residential with a vibrant nightlife, Njiro, a rapidly-growing suburb in the South, and Tengeru, a lively market-town in the East.

North of Arusha is a small village called Longido. It is about 90 minutes north of Arusha by daladala.

Transport

Arusha is served by Kilimanjaro International Airport, some 60km East, approximately half-way to Moshi. The airport provides international and domestic flights. Arusha Airport is a small domestic airport in the West of the city. There are no passenger train services to or from Arusha but there are regular coaches (buses) to Nairobi, Dodoma and Dar Es Salaam.

Culture

Arusha has a lively music scene, notably Tanzanian hip hop, blending Maasai and Swahili influences with western music, locally known as Bongo Flava. A good example of this genre is the band, X Plastaz.

There is a large population of people from India living within Arusha, Because of this, many fine Indian restaraunts can be found.

Schools

There are three international schools in and around Arusha: International School Moshi Arusha Campus, Braeburn School, and St Constantine's International School.

Sister cities

Durham, USA
Kansas City, USA

Trivia

Arusha is also the Hindi name for the rising sun.
Arusha's clock tower is supposedly situated at the midpoint between Cairo and Capetown, therefore representing the halfway point between the two terminii of the old British Empire in Africa. The clock tower is currently adorned by the logo of the Coca-Cola Company.
Arusha was the setting for the 1962 film Hatari! directed by Howard Hawks and starring John Wayne.
A slang name for the city among locals is "A-Town".

External links

International School Moshi Arusha Campus

Braeburn School

St Constantine's International School

Cities in Tanzania | Arusha Region

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