Kara, Togo

Kara used to be known as Lama-Kara. In 1902, a bridge over the Kara River was built by the Germans, which marks the beginning of the city. Under the presidency of Gnassingbé Eyadéma, in the 1970s, the city developed particularly because of its role in holding political events. ==Geography==

The city lies at the southern tip of the southern Kabiye mountain range. Kara is at an altitude of about 400 meters. The Kara River runs through the center of the city. The city lies on the crossroads of two trade routes, the main north-south road from Ouagadougou to Lomé, and the east-west road from Bassar to Djougou and Parakou in Benin. Climate {{Weather box | width = auto | metric first = yes | single line = yes | location = Kara (1991–2020) | Jan high C = 35.5 | Feb high C = 37.4 | Mar high C = 38.0 | Apr high C = 36.3 | May high C = 34.1 | Jun high C = 32.1 | Jul high C = 30.3 | Aug high C = 29.7 | Sep high C = 31.1 | Oct high C = 33.2 | Nov high C = 35.4 | Dec high C = 35.5 | year high C = 34.0 | Jan mean C = 26.8 | Feb mean C = 29.1 | Mar mean C = 30.8 | Apr mean C = 30.0 | May mean C = 28.8 | Jun mean C = 27.1 | Jul mean C = 26.1 | Aug mean C = 25.6 | Sep mean C = 25.9 | Oct mean C = 27.1 | Nov mean C = 27.1 | Dec mean C = 26.9 | year mean C = 27.6 | Jan low C = 18.7 | Feb low C = 21.4 | Mar low C = 23.6 | Apr low C = 24.1 | May low C = 23.5 | Jun low C = 22.0 | Jul low C = 21.8 | Aug low C = 21.5 | Sep low C = 21.1 | Oct low C = 21.1 | Nov low C = 18.9 | Dec low C = 18.3 | year low C = 21.3 | precipitation colour = green | Jan precipitation mm = 3.2 | Feb precipitation mm = 7.7 | Mar precipitation mm = 30.4 | Apr precipitation mm = 77.1 | May precipitation mm = 126.9 | Jun precipitation mm = 181.2 | Jul precipitation mm = 203.1 | Aug precipitation mm = 261.2 | Sep precipitation mm = 257.4 | Oct precipitation mm = 135.6 | Nov precipitation mm = 15.1 | Dec precipitation mm = 0.8 | year precipitation mm = 1299.7 | unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm | Jan precipitation days = 0.2 | Feb precipitation days = 0.9 | Mar precipitation days = 3.6 | Apr precipitation days = 8.3 | May precipitation days = 12.6 | Jun precipitation days = 14.0 | Jul precipitation days = 18.5 | Aug precipitation days = 19.2 | Sep precipitation days = 20.8 | Oct precipitation days = 12.0 | Nov precipitation days = 1.9 | Dec precipitation days = 0.2 | year precipitation days = 112.2 | source = NOAA ==Economy==

The majority of the population depend on subsistence agriculture cultivating maize, cassava, yams, sorghum, pearl millet, groundnuts, and as a cash crop, cotton. Small and medium-sized farms produce most of the food crop; the average farm size is one to three hectares. ==Transportation==

The city is served various by several international bus lines to Lomé, Ouagadougou and Niamey, including Eltrab, LK, Adji, and Rakieta. Niamtougou International Airport, which is located 40 kilometers north of Kara, is undergoing development. ==Energy==

The Compagnie d'Énergie Eléctrique du Togo reported in 2001 that Ghana supplied the city with 0.520 TWh of electricity. ==Education==

In 1996, primary school enrollment rate was 81.3 percent. The education system has suffered from teacher shortages, poor educational quality in rural areas, and high repetition and dropout rates. A second national university was created in Kara in 2004. The University of Kara is located at the southern edge of the city. ==Languages==

Like most African cities, Kara is multi-lingual. In addition to French, the official language of Togo, the principal language is Kabiye, but it is also common to hear Tem, Zarma, Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo in the main market. Residents who have lived in the south of Togo are likely to have some knowledge of Ewe. ==Culture==

Every July, a traditional wrestling tournament takes place in and around Kara. It is the first step in the Kabiye male initiation rite towards adulthood. The tournaments are organised by neighbourhood, by village and by canton. By tradition, the Head of State attends the finals. ==Architecture==

The city has some buildings of architectural interest, such as the Congress Hall and the Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul. It also has numerous hotels, including Hôtel Kara, Hôtel de l'Union, Hôtel de la Concorde. == Places of worship ==

Places of worship are predominantly Christian churches: Roman Catholic Diocese of Kara (Catholic Church), Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Togo (World Communion of Reformed Churches), Togo Baptist Convention (Baptist World Alliance), Living Faith Church Worldwide, Redeemed Christian Church of God, Assemblies of God. Many residents are Muslim, so there are also numerous mosques. ==Notable residents==

in his former residence in Pya, Kara, Togo. • Gnassingbé Eyadéma, the President of Togo from 1967 until his death in 2005. ==References==