 | This article includes a list ofgeneral references, butit lacks sufficient correspondinginline citations. Please help toimprove this article byintroducing more precise citations.(July 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
 | You can helpexpand this article with text translated fromthe corresponding article in French. (October 2022)Click [show] for important translation instructions.
|
Franceville Masuku | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Coat of arms | |
  Franceville Location in Gabon Show map of Gabon Franceville Franceville (Africa) Show map of Africa | |
| Coordinates:1°38′00″S13°35′30″E / 1.63333°S 13.59167°E /-1.63333; 13.59167 | |
| Country |  Gabon |
| Province | Haut-Ogooué Province |
| Department | Mpassa Department |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Jean Pierre Doumbeneny |
| Elevation | 303 m (994 ft) |
| Population (2013 census) | |
• Total | 110,568 |
Franceville is one of the four largest cities inGabon, with a population of 110,568 at the 2013 census. It lies on theMpassa River and at the end of theTrans-Gabon Railway and theN3 road. It grew from a village named Masuku.
Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza chose the village of Masuku to resettle former slaves and renamed it Francheville (meaning "city of the freed") in 1880. This name later was modified to Franceville, after the country’s former ruler (meaning "city of France").[1]
Features of the town includeSt Hilaire's Church (built in 1899), a large statue of PresidentOmar Bongo (who was born in Franceville), aprimatemedical research institute, and a golf course. Itsairport is 20 km (12 mi) west, inMvengué. Bongo was buried in Franceville on June 18, 2009.
There is a market where numerous items can be purchased, including clothing, fruit and vegetables, electronics, meats, and the market also sellsbushmeat, which includesCentral African rock python,monkey and local species of animals.
There are a few hotels, of which the best known is the Hôtel Poubara, overlooking the president's holiday home.
Franceville also has many waterfalls. One of the best known is thePoubara Falls, which is co-located with a hydroelectric plant that provides the area with constant electricity.
The population was 31,183 in 1993.[2] The 2010 population was approximated at 56,000. Another population number is 42,967,[3] possibly retrieved following the disputed[2] census of 2003 (alternately a 2004 estimate[4]). Another recent estimate gives the population as 75,000.[5]
Franceville has atropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classificationAw). There are a lot of thunderstorms in the city.
| Climate data for Franceville | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 29 (85) | 30 (86) | 31 (87) | 31 (87) | 29 (85) | 28 (83) | 27 (81) | 28 (83) | 29 (85) | 29 (85) | 29 (85) | 29 (85) | 29 (85) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 20 (68) | 20 (68) | 20 (68) | 20 (68) | 20 (68) | 19 (66) | 18 (64) | 18 (65) | 19 (67) | 19 (67) | 19 (67) | 20 (68) | 19 (67) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 160 (6.3) | 190 (7.5) | 220 (8.5) | 210 (8.3) | 210 (8.1) | 33 (1.3) | 7.6 (0.3) | 20 (0.8) | 110 (4.2) | 260 (10.4) | 250 (10) | 190 (7.6) | 1,860 (73.3) |
| Source: Weatherbase[6] | |||||||||||||
Franceville is home to the University of Science and Technology of Masuku (USTM), Gabon'shard sciences university, with the other subjects being taught inLibreville. It welcomes students from all African countries. It is home to the Canadian-sponsored Polytechnic and Faculty of Science and the National Higher Institute of Agronomy and Biotechnology, which trains agricultural engineers.The city is also home to a doctoral school in the 2ndarrondissement.Schools include École publique conventionnée de Franceville.[7]
Franceville istwinned with:
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
