Moundou facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Moundou موندو
Moundou
Moundou Location in Chad
Country	Chad
Region	Logone Occidental Region
Department	Lac Wey
Sub-Prefecture	Moundou
Elevation	413 m (1,355 ft)
Population  (2012)
• Total	137,929
Time zone	+1

Moundou (Arabic: موندو) is the second-largest city in the country of Chad. It is the capital city of the Logone Occidental area.

The city is located on the Mbéré River, which flows into the Western Logone River. It is about 475 kilometers (295 miles) south of Chad's capital, N'Djamena. Moundou is the main city for the Ngambai people. It has grown into an important place for industries like the Gala Brewery, which makes Chad's most popular beer. It also has industries for cotton and oil.

History of Moundou

Moundou was founded on November 8, 1923, by a French officer named Joseph-François Reste. He was exploring the Logone River and thought the spot looked nice. Even though Chad was mostly under French control by 1916, some local groups continued to resist. Reste decided to build the Moundou outpost right in the middle of this area where people were resisting.

Later, in 1927, another officer named Robert Reverdy moved the main office of the district to Moundou. He worked to organize the local leaders, creating village and township chiefs. Some of these chiefs were not from the traditional local families, but the system was accepted. Many of these chiefs stayed in power for a long time, and their families still hold positions today.

Reverdy also helped make Moundou a more developed town. He planted many flowers that bloom from February to May. This led to the city being called "Moundou-la-Rouge" (Moundou the Red) during the time it was a French colony.

In 1926, a company called the Cotton Company of the Congo built a factory in Moundou to process cotton. This company later became known as CotonTchad in 1972.

The first map of Moundou was made in 1926. At that time, they didn't have good tools for mapping. They thought the city's drainage system should face the river, believing water would flow into it. However, the river's water level is actually higher than the city. This means that when there are floods, water from the Logone River flows into Lake Wey and then into the city, causing Moundou to flood.

Geography and Climate

Moundou is located in southern Chad. It has a typical tropical savanna climate. This means it has a wet season and a dry season, and it's hot all year round.

Weather Patterns

The average high temperature in Moundou is about 34.0°C (93.2°F). The average low temperature is about 20.1°C (68.2°F). The hottest months are from March to May, just before the rainy season begins. March has the highest average high at 38.6°C (101.5°F).

The coolest month for high temperatures is August, with an average of 29.8°C (85.6°F). December has the lowest average low temperature at 14.6°C (58.3°F).

Moundou gets about 1082.8 millimeters (42.6 inches) of rain each year, spread over 85 rainy days. There is a clear wet season and a dry season. December and January usually have no rain at all. The wettest month is August, which gets about 284.8 millimeters (11.2 inches) of rain. Humidity is much higher during the wet season.

The city gets a good amount of sunshine throughout the year, about 2810.4 hours annually. December is the sunniest month, while August gets the least sunshine.

City Districts and Neighborhoods

Moundou is divided into four main areas, called municipal districts. These districts are then split into 20 smaller neighborhoods:

• First district:
  • DOMBAO neighborhood
  • DOYON neighborhood
  • TAYE neighborhood
  • BEBANDJI neighborhood
  • KOUDJIRIKO neighborhood
  • NGARA neighborhood
• Second district:
  • NGUELBE neighborhood
  • BAGUIRMI neighborhood
  • BOURNOU neighborhood
  • HAUSA neighborhood
• Third district:
  • GUELKOURA neighborhood
  • QUINZE ANS (meaning "fifteen years") neighborhood
  • DOUMBEUR I neighborhood
  • DOHERI neighborhood
  • MBAGUE neighborhood
• Fourth district:
  • MBOMBAYA neighborhood
  • GUELDJEM neighborhood
  • DOMBEUR II neighborhood
  • KOUTOU GUELMBAGUE neighborhood
  • MADANA neighborhood

Population Growth

The population of Moundou has grown over the years:

Economy and Industries

Moundou is an important economic center for Chad.

• Cotton Industry: The city has factories that process cotton, turning it into products like oil and soap. This is done by the company CotonTchad. Before oil was discovered, cotton was Chad's main source of income.
• Beer Production: Moundou is also known for its beer industry. The Brasseries du Logone company makes the famous Gala beer, which is very popular in Chad and Cameroon.
• Cigarette Manufacturing: The Manufacture des Cigarettes du Tchad (MCT) company also makes cigarettes in the city.

Transportation in Moundou

Moundou is located on one of the main roads in southern Chad. This road connects several important towns, including Léré (near the border with Cameroon), Pala, Kélo, Moundou, Doba, Koumra, and Sarh.

The city also has its own airport, Moundou Airport (MQQ/FTTD), which has a paved runway.

Education in Moundou

Moundou has many schools for different age groups. Since 2002, it has also been home to a university.

Higher Education

• The University of Moundou was officially created in 2008. Before that, it was known as the Moundou University Institute of Business Techniques (IUTEM), which started in 2002.

Primary Schools

• Ecole Taye
• Ecole Doumbeur II
• CEG Communautaire de Doumbeur 2
• Centre Scolaire de Ku-Jéricho
• Ecole Officielle de Belle Vue de Moundou (Ecole Belle Vue)
• Ecole du Centre
• Ecole d'application de Moundou
• Ecole Quinze Ans
• Ecole Dombao

Secondary Schools

• Lycée Adoum d'Allah (public)
• Lycée Technique Commercial de Moundou
• Lycée-Collège de l'Amitié (LYCAM)
• Lycée Djarabé
• Lycée Palais Du Savoir de Moundou
• Lycée Guelkol
• CEG No. 2
• College du Lac Taba
• Ecole Enfants Unis
• Lycée Le Héros
• Lycée Communal
• Collège Evangelique Gary

Other Schools

• Ecole des Sourds de Moundou (School for the Deaf)

Places of Worship

In Moundou, you can find many places where people go to worship. These include:

• Mosques: For people who follow Muslim faith.
• Churches and Temples: For people who follow Christian faiths. These include the Roman Catholic Diocese of Moundou (for the Catholic Church), the Evangelical Church of Chad, and Christian Assemblies in Chad (Plymouth Brethren).

Sister Cities

Moundou has a special connection with another city far away. This is called a "sister city" or "twin town" relationship.

• Poitiers, France (since 1990)

See also

In Spanish: Moundou para niños