Burco
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Burao (Somali: Burco) is the capital city of the Togdheer region and the second largest city in the break-away republic of Somaliland. Burao is also famous for being one of the cities inhabited to a great extent by the Habar Yoonis sub-clan of the Isaaq bin Hashim clan. Furthermore the second group that inhabits this important city is the habar Jeclo sub-clan.
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[edit] History
Like Hargeisa, it was heavily bombed in the 1980s to stop rebels from taking over the northern part of Somalia. It was the site of the declaration of an independent Somaliland in June 1991 [1]. Also like the other cities in the northern part of the country, Burao has been rebuilt with limited outside aid. The city has boomed economically with the money coming in and people from rural areas moving to the city.
[edit] Population
Burao's population has more than tripled since 1991, to around 1,000,000. The city is the site of Burao University.
The city also has full-time electricity and a reliable water supply from groundwater.
[edit] Geography
Weather in Burao, much like other inland towns in Somaliland, is warm and dry year round. The average daytime tempartures during the summer months of June-August can rise to 35°C (95°F), with low of 25°C (77°F) at night. The weather is cooler the rest of the year and is 27°C (80°F) during the day and 14°C (57°F) at night time. The city's limited rainfall usually comes in December and May.
The Togdheer River runs through the town. The river is often dry but subject to flooding, when it divides the city in half and can be crossed by a newly built bridge at the city centre.
[edit] Transport
Burao has a working bus system and there is the Burao airport nearby which has flights with Daallo Airlines to Hargeisa, Addis Ababa, San'a and other cities in Somalia.
