Geography, Land-Use, Highlights, Population, Roads, Airports, Climate & National Monuments in Turkana County
Geography of Turkana County
The salient topographic features of Turkana County are low-lying open plains, mountain ranges and river drainage patterns. Lake Turkana is at an elevation of 360 meters (1,181 feet) while the surrounding basin is set at 375 to 914 meters (1,230 to 3,000 feet). The main mountain ranges in Turkana County are Loima, Lorengippi, Mogila, Songot, Kalapata, Loriu, Kailongol and Silale Mountains. The notable hills in Turkana County consist of Tepes Hills in Kibish Division, Lokwanamor Hills and Lorionotom Hills in Kaikor Division, Pelekech Hills in Kakuma Division and Loima Hills in Loima Division which are characterized by large forests. The open-lying-plains consist of the Kalapata and Lotikipi Plains.
Land Use in Turkana County
The settlement patterns in the Turkana County are determined principally by climate, soil fertility and infrastructure. Katilu has the largest number of people because of irrigated agriculture at Katilu Irrigation Scheme along the Turkwel River. The Turkana People are traditionally pastoralists and their only notable migration pattern is rural to rural movement in the form of nomadism. Most of the land in Turkana County is communally owned and the land is held in trust for the community by the County Council of Turkana. Since land in the County is owned communally, there are very minimal incidences of landlessness. In the far-flung rural areas pastoralist herders are free to graze and settle at any place.
Highlights in Turkana County
The main tourism attractions in the county are Lake Turkana, inscribed as part of the Lake Turkana National Parks UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Central Island National Park and South Turkana National Reserve. It is the largest and most saline of the Rift Valley lakes. It is situated on the eastern part of Turkana.
Population in Turkana County
Turkana County’s population during the Kenya Population and Housing Census of 2009 stood at 855,399. The County’s population average growth rate is 6.4% per annum. The projected population for Turkana County in 2012 and 2017 was 1,036,586 and 1,256,152. Turkana County has a very juvenile population with 60% being under the age of 19 years. Lodwar Town has the highest population projected to be 54,978 in 2012 – attributed to influx of people seeking jobs and the availability of infrastructure. That said, Turkana County is the poorest of the Counties of Kenya, with 92% of the population living below the poverty line.
Airports in Turkana County
Turkana has only 1 airport, at Lokichoggio, and 22 air strips across the County. Lodwar Airstrip is tarmacked, while the rest are all-weather. Over the past five years Lodwar Airstrip has become busy and four airlines operate regular flights.
Roads in Turkana County
Turkana County road network is poorly developed. The County has a total road network of 5,496.2 kms of which 488.5 kms are bitumen and 5007.7 kms earth surface. The challenges faced by this sub-sector include seasonal rivers that cut through roads and its poor soils that increase the cost of maintaining the roads.
Climate in Turkana County
Rainfall in Turkana County follows a fairly erratic pattern, varying significantly both over time and space. Turkana County is arid and semi-arid, with warm and hot climate that ranges between 20ºC and 41ºC with a mean of 30.5ºC. The driest months are January, February and September. The long rains season falls between April to July. Short rains occur between early October and November.
National Monuments in Turkana County
There are no designated national monuments in Turkana County.
Turkana County Map
