Alula Caluula علولة | |
|---|---|
City | |
 Aerial view of Aluula in 2021. | |
  Alula Location in Somalia. | |
| Coordinates:11°58′0″N50°45′0″E / 11.96667°N 50.75000°E /11.96667; 50.75000 | |
| Country |  Somalia |
| Regional State |  Puntland |
| Region | Ra'as Aseir |
| District | Alula District |
| Government | |
| • Type | local government |
| • Mayor | Abdullahi Isse Ordaye |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (EAT) |
Alula (Somali:Caluula,Arabic:علولة), also spelledAluula, is a coastal town in the northeasternRa'as Aseir region and is part of the autonomous state ofPuntland, on the coast of theGuardafui Channel. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it served as the main capital of theMajeerteen Sultanate. It is ten miles east ofRas Filuk and 100 nautical miles fromBosaso.[1]
The Majeerteen Sultanate was established possibly around 1600s bySomalis from theMajeerteenDarod clan.[2] It reached prominence during the 19th century, under the reign of the resourcefulBoqor (King)Osman Mahamuud.[3]
In the mid-17th to early 20th centuries, the city was the main capital city of theMajeerteen SultanateMigiurtinia. Later forming a part of Italian Somaliland.[4][2][5]Alula was The main capital of Majeerteen Sultanate's with its seasonal headquarters atBargal. It likewise had a number ofcastles andforts in various areas within its realm, including a fortress atMurcanyo.[4]
Alula is derived from theSomali term "lul", which meanspearl. Alula (Caluula in Somali) consists of two Somali words, "Cal" and "luul". "Cal" is a mountain range in northeastern Somalia and "luul" means pearl. Therefore "Caluula – Alula" means the pearl of the Al mountains.[citation needed]
Alula is located about 50 kilometres (31 mi) west ofCape Guardafui, at the extremity of theHorn of Africa. 20nautical miles (23 miles) east of Alula lies the coastal town ofBereeda. 7nautical miles (8 miles) west liesRas Filuk, the likely Cape Elephant (Elephas) ofStrabo and thePeriplus of the Erythraean Sea. Adjacent to Alula is ashallow lagoon lined bymangrove bushes, which appears to correspond with the "large laurel-grove called Acannae" also described by thePeriplus.[6] TheAcrocephalus warbler has been heard singing in the coastal mangroves as well.[7]On the coastal plain 20 km to Alula's east are ruins of an ancient monument in a platform style. The structure is formed by a rectangulardrystone wall that is low in height; the space in between is filled with rubble and manually covered with small stones. Relatively large standing stones (menhirs) are also positioned on the edifice's corners. Near the platform are graves, which are outlined in stones. 24 m by 17 m in dimension, the structure is the largest of a string of ancient platform and enclosed platform monuments exclusive to far northeastern Somalia.[6]
Legendary Arab explorerAhmad ibn Mājid wrote of Alula and a few other notable ports and landmarks of the northern Somali coast, includingBerbera,Siyara,Heis, andZeila with itsArchipelago,Ruguda,Maydh,El-Sheikh andEl-Darad .[citation needed]
During the mid-1800s to early 1900s, Alula served as the main capital of theMajeerteen SultanateMigiurtinia.[8] A castle built in the city is one of a number of local remains from this era.
In the post-independence period, Alula became the principal town in theAlula District, situated in the autonomousPuntland state.
On April 8, 2013, the Puntland government announced the creation of a new region coextensive with Cape Guardafui namedGardafu. Carved out of Bari, it consists of three districts and has its capital at Alula. The new region was officially approved by legislators on July 20, 2013, during the 30th session of the Puntland parliament.[9]
Alula has a number of academic institutions. According to the Puntland Ministry of Education, there are 11 primary schools in the Alula District. Among these areXabo,Geesaley,Murcanyo, Xoogad and Alula Primary.[10]
Air transportation in Alula is served by theAlula Airport.[11]
According to the Somali government, the town has a smallseaport.[12]
Alula has ahot desert climate (Köppen climate classificationBWh).
| Climate data for Alula | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 31.6 (88.9) | 31.0 (87.8) | 36.0 (96.8) | 37.5 (99.5) | 38.3 (100.9) | 39.0 (102.2) | 40.5 (104.9) | 40.0 (104.0) | 38.0 (100.4) | 36.0 (96.8) | 31.6 (88.9) | 31.0 (87.8) | 40.5 (104.9) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 26.9 (80.4) | 26.9 (80.4) | 29.5 (85.1) | 31.9 (89.4) | 33.5 (92.3) | 34.8 (94.6) | 36.0 (96.8) | 35.3 (95.5) | 33.8 (92.8) | 30.8 (87.4) | 28.3 (82.9) | 27.4 (81.3) | 31.4 (88.5) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 24.0 (75.2) | 23.6 (74.5) | 25.5 (77.9) | 27.6 (81.7) | 28.9 (84.0) | 30.2 (86.4) | 31.0 (87.8) | 30.6 (87.1) | 29.2 (84.6) | 26.0 (78.8) | 24.4 (75.9) | 25.4 (77.7) | 27.2 (81.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 21.2 (70.2) | 20.5 (68.9) | 21.6 (70.9) | 23.3 (73.9) | 24.5 (76.1) | 25.7 (78.3) | 26.4 (79.5) | 26.0 (78.8) | 24.8 (76.6) | 21.2 (70.2) | 20.6 (69.1) | 21.5 (70.7) | 23.1 (73.6) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 15.5 (59.9) | 15.0 (59.0) | 16.0 (60.8) | 14.0 (57.2) | 16.0 (60.8) | 20.0 (68.0) | 22.0 (71.6) | 21.0 (69.8) | 20.0 (68.0) | 14.0 (57.2) | 15.0 (59.0) | 15.0 (59.0) | 14.0 (57.2) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 14 (0.6) | 1 (0.0) | 16 (0.6) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.1 mm) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 74 | 72 | 72 | 73 | 71 | 69 | 66 | 70 | 72 | 70 | 74 | 75 | 71 |
| Source:Deutscher Wetterdienst[13] | |||||||||||||
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