Kigali

Kigali, population 330,000 (1997), is the capital city of Rwanda and its largest city, lying in the centre of the nation. Centred on a ridge between two valleys, it is known for its vegetation. It is built in hilly country, with the lower parts at roughly 4700 feet (1433 m), and the higher hills over 5400 feet (1645 m) in elevation.

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Founded in 1907 under German colonial rule, Kigali was made the capital when Rwanda gained independence in 1962. It succeeded Nyanza, the traditional capital of Rwanda's Tutsi monarchy.

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Beginning on April 7, 1994, Kigali was the scene of the Rwandan Genocide — the slaughter of approximately one million Tutsis by Hutu militias and the Rwandan army — and of fierce fighting between the army (mostly Hutu) and Tutsi-dominated Rwandese Patriotic Front. Although damaged, the city's structure has recovered.

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Tin ore (cassiterite) is mined nearby, and the city built a smelting plant in the 1980s. The city is home to an international airport.

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Kigali's location is 1° 57.245' S, 30° 3.570' E. (-1.954167, 30.059444)

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1997: 1997 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar....

Capital city: A capital city (or just capital) is the area of a country, province, region, or state, regarded as enjoying primary status; although there are exceptions, a capital is almost always a city which physically encompasses the offices and meeting places of the seat of government and is fixed by law. An a...

Ridge: A 'ridge' is a geological feature that features a continuous elevational crest for some distance. Ridges are usually termed hills or mountains as well, depending on size. There are several main types of ridges:...