Gisenyi Rubavu | |
|---|---|
 Lake Kivu beach at Gisenyi | |
  Gisenyi Location in Rwanda | |
| Coordinates:1°42′S29°15′E / 1.700°S 29.250°E /-1.700; 29.250 | |
| Country |  Rwanda |
| Admin. Province | Western Province |
| District | Rubavu |
| Area | |
• Total | 11 km2 (4.2 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,481 m (4,859 ft) |
| Population (2022 census)[1] | |
• Total | 252,090 |
| • Density | 23,000/km2 (59,000/sq mi) |
| Climate | Aw |
Gisenyi, historically rendered asKisenyi, is the second largest city in Rwanda, located in theRubavu district inRwanda'sWestern Province. Gisenyi is contiguous withGoma as it was formerly also part of nowDemocratic Republic of the Congo, the city across the border in theDemocratic Republic of the Congo.
The city features a resort on the shores ofLake Kivu, with severalhotels and three sandy beaches. The area is also known forwater sports. The northern shore of the lake on which Goma and Gisenyi lie is a flat plain featuring lava formations from the eruptions of nearbyMount Nyiragongo.
In contrast to Goma, Gisenyi escaped the lava flows of both the 1977 and the 2002 eruptions, which destroyed between 15 and 40% of the former. The centre of Gisenyi lies by foothills at the northeast corner of the lake, and low-density expansion is taking place in the hills, which are expected to be safe from future eruptions.
Gisenyi is also home toBralirwa, which manufactures various local beers —Primus,Mützig,Amstel andGuinness — as well as a range ofCoca-Cola–branded soft drinks. Gisenyi is a small town compared to neighbouring Goma in the DRC, though Gisenyi is growing quickly. In 2011, a new multistorey shopping mall began construction over an old bus station. As of 2011, the main roads of the town are paved, and sidewalks are nearing completion for most of them as well.
Gisenyi has two borders with Goma, the "Petite Barrière" and the "Grand Barrière". These names are a little misleading because the Petite Barrière is physically larger and features much higher traffic volumes. About 6,000 people crossed the Petite Barrière daily during 2011. On the Gisenyi side, a large customs and immigration office was built with a large capacity, not yet matched by the Congolese facilities. Similarly, the road to the Petite Barrière is paved on the Rwandan side but not on the Congolese side. The Grande Barrière is paved on both sides and receives more of the heavy truck traffic. It is also a diplomatic border.
During theRwandan genocide, theprovisional government was based in the city. Gisenyi is the city whereLaurent Nkunda — accused by theUnited Nations of having led an army that illegally recruitedCongolesechild soldiers[2] — is being held, pending a determination on the DRC'sextradition request.
1°42′S29°15′E / 1.700°S 29.250°E /-1.700; 29.250
Gisenyi's campus ofKigali Independent University had an enrollment of 3413 students in the 2012-2013 academic year. The students were pursuing programs in the faculties of Economics and Business Studies, Social Sciences, and Law.[3] University of tourism Technology and Business studies(UTB) previously called RTUC also has a Gisenyi campus. The town has about 30 public and private schools, including nursery, primary and secondary schools.
| Climate data forGisenyi Airport (1991–2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 29.5 (85.1) | 31.6 (88.9) | 32.1 (89.8) | 29.3 (84.7) | 30.6 (87.1) | 28.4 (83.1) | 28.4 (83.1) | 29.6 (85.3) | 30.3 (86.5) | 29.9 (85.8) | 28.5 (83.3) | 28.9 (84.0) | 32.1 (89.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 24.7 (76.5) | 24.9 (76.8) | 24.7 (76.5) | 24.6 (76.3) | 24.3 (75.7) | 24.0 (75.2) | 24.4 (75.9) | 25.0 (77.0) | 25.2 (77.4) | 24.7 (76.5) | 24.2 (75.6) | 24.4 (75.9) | 24.6 (76.3) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 19.9 (67.8) | 20.1 (68.2) | 20.1 (68.2) | 20.1 (68.2) | 19.8 (67.6) | 19.4 (66.9) | 19.3 (66.7) | 19.8 (67.6) | 20.1 (68.2) | 19.9 (67.8) | 19.5 (67.1) | 19.6 (67.3) | 19.8 (67.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 15.1 (59.2) | 15.2 (59.4) | 15.6 (60.1) | 15.6 (60.1) | 15.4 (59.7) | 14.7 (58.5) | 14.1 (57.4) | 14.6 (58.3) | 14.9 (58.8) | 15.0 (59.0) | 14.7 (58.5) | 14.9 (58.8) | 15.0 (59.0) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 12.2 (54.0) | 11.9 (53.4) | 12.4 (54.3) | 12.7 (54.9) | 12.5 (54.5) | 11.2 (52.2) | 9.9 (49.8) | 11.1 (52.0) | 11.8 (53.2) | 11.8 (53.2) | 12.2 (54.0) | 12.3 (54.1) | 9.9 (49.8) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 93.0 (3.66) | 82.3 (3.24) | 140.5 (5.53) | 129.2 (5.09) | 91.9 (3.62) | 67.8 (2.67) | 21.4 (0.84) | 84.9 (3.34) | 115.6 (4.55) | 142.2 (5.60) | 154.5 (6.08) | 109.0 (4.29) | 1,232.4 (48.52) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 1.0 mm) | 12.7 | 12.2 | 17.8 | 17.4 | 11.7 | 5.1 | 2.1 | 6.7 | 14.0 | 17.7 | 20.1 | 16.8 | 154.2 |
| Source:NOAA[4] | |||||||||||||
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