Louga (Wolof: Luga) is a city in northwestern Senegal. Louga is a cattle market centre, and has road and rail links with the port city of Saint-Louis to the northwest and Dakar to the southwest. The area surrounding Louga is at the northern limits of Senegal's peanut- (groundnut-) growing area and is inhabited by the Fulani, who are generally pastoral nomads, and the Wolof, who are sedentary farmers. Louga is located in what is called the Ndiambour, which used to be part of the Cayor province. In 2013, according to official figures from the National Agency for Statistics and Demography (Senegal) (ANSD), Louga had a population of 104,000 inhabitants.

Administration

Louga is both the capital of the Louga department and of the Louga region. The administrative region of Louga was formed in 1976, divided into 3 departments with 11 districts and 48 communities. There are 7 municipalities. The Louga region is made up of 3 departments:

Geography

The closest towns are Dagadj, Bayakh, Taoua, Laye, Mbarom and Ngueye Dili. The capital of Senegal, Dakar, is 203 km away. The climate is dry, almost desertlike, with a long dry season called the harmattan that can last 9 months or more. This season carries dust to Louga and occasionally causes sandstorms, promoting wind erosion and water loss by evaporation.

Population

The main ethnic groups are the Wolof, the Fula, the Toucouleur, and the Moors.

Economy

Agriculture is the main sector of Louga's economy. Fishing is practiced on the 50 km sea front in Potou.

Climate

Louga, with year-round hot weather, has a hot desert climate (Köppen: BWh). Louga has a mildly rainy wet season from July to October, while the period from November to May has very little precipitation.

Transport

Louga is a junction station on the Dakar-Niger Railway network.

Sports

Stade ASAC Ndiambour, better known as Stade Alboury Ndiaye, is a multi-use stadium. It is currently used mostly for football matches and serves as a home ground of ASAC Ndiambour. The stadium holds 3,000 people.

Twin Towns

Notable People Born in Louga