# Holhol
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{{More citations needed|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name = Holhol
|native_name = {{native name|so|Hollholl}}
{{native name|ar|حلحول|italic=no}}
|settlement_type = Town
|image_skyline = Holhol.jpg
|imagesize = 300
|image_caption =
|image_seal =
|image_map =
|map_caption =
|pushpin_map = Djibouti
|pushpin_label_position = bottom
|pushpin_mapsize = 300
|pushpin_map_caption = Location in Djibouti
| subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_type1 = [Region](/source/Regions_of_Djibouti)
|subdivision_name = {{flag|Djibouti}}
|subdivision_name1 = [Ali Sabieh](/source/Ali_Sabieh_Region)
|subdivision_type2 =
|subdivision_name2 =
|established_title =
|established_date =
|government_type =
|leader_title =
|leader_name =
|area_magnitude =
|area_total_sq_mi =
|area_total_km2 = 2
|area_land_sq_mi =
|area_land_km2 =
|area_urban_sq_mi =
|area_urban_km2 =
|area_metro_km2 =
|area_metro_sq_mi =
|population_as_of= 2024 census
|population_footnotes = [[https://www.citypopulation.de/en/djibouti/cities/ Citypopulation.de] Population of Cities & Rural Localities in Djibouti]
|population_total = 3,875
|population_urban =
|population_metro =
|population_density_sq_mi =
|population_density_km2 =
|timezone =
|utc_offset =
|coordinates = {{coord|11|18|35|N|42|55|45|E|region:DJ-AS|display=it}}
|elevation_footnotes=
|elevation_m = 450
|elevation_ft =
|postal_code_type =
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|website =
|footnotes =
|blank_name = [Climate](/source/K%C3%B6ppen_climate_classification)
|blank_info = [BWh](/source/Desert_climate)
}}
'''Holhol''' ({{langx|so|Hollholl}}, {{langx|ar|حلحول}}) is a town in the [Ali Sabieh Region](/source/Ali_Sabieh_Region) of [Djibouti](/source/Djibouti). It is located {{convert|44|km|0|abbr=off}} south-west of the capital [Djibouti City](/source/Djibouti_(city)), at an altitude of 450 metres (1,476 feet) [above sea level](/source/above_sea_level). The surrounding area is rich in [livestock](/source/livestock) and fledgling [agriculture](/source/agriculture). It is notable for being the birthplace of ''Cheik Osman Waiss'' a [nationalist](/source/nationalist) and [anti-colonial](/source/anti-colonial) where he began his movement.
==History==
thumb|left|The old railroad bridge in Holhol.
{{main|Somali aristocratic and court titles}}
The Holhol area has been inhabited since [ancient](/source/ancient) times with [nomadic](/source/nomadic)s sometimes stopping here for water on the way to the town of [Zeila](/source/Zeila) and [Harar](/source/Harar) across the [Horn of Africa](/source/Horn_of_Africa). and after the signing treaties in 1894 with the then ruling [Ugaas](/source/Ugaas) of [Issa Somali](/source/Issa_(clan)), to established a protectorate in the region referred to as [French Somaliland](/source/French_Somaliland). The railway reached this location on 14 July 1899. Holhol became an administrative and commercial centre in the 1900s after the construction of the [Ethio-Djibouti Railway](/source/Ethio-Djibouti_Railways) between Djibouti City and Addis Ababa, undermined the traditional [camel caravan](/source/Camel_train) economy of Holhol. It was first railway in [French Somaliland](/source/French_Somaliland).
==Overview==
Holhol is served by a station on the meter gauge [Ethio-Djibouti Railway](/source/Ethio-Djibouti_Railways). A notable feature of the meter-gauge railway is a [viaduct](/source/viaduct), 29 meters high and 45 meters long, that was built in 1900. The station is a transit point for commercial goods from Ethiopia. Holhol also has a station on the new standard gauge [Addis Ababa–Djibouti Railway](/source/Addis_Ababa%E2%80%93Djibouti_Railway).
The town also lies along [RN-5 National Highway](/source/National_Highway_5_(Djibouti)). It is the seventh largest city in the country.
Additionally, Holhol has a number of primary and secondary schools as well as nurseries. The [El-Hajj Hassan Gouled Military Academy](/source/Holhol_Defence_Training_Center) is located here. One kilometer from the town is the local college. Nearby towns and villages include [Ali Sabieh](/source/Ali_Sabieh) (33 km), [Goubetto](/source/Goubetto) (18 km), [Ali Adde](/source/Ali_Adde) (23 km), [Dasbiyo](/source/Dasbiyo) (19 km) and [Chabelley](/source/Chabelley) (28 km).
==Demographics==
As of 2017, the population of Holhol has been estimated to be roughly around 3,000. The city inhabitants belong to various mainly [Afro-Asiatic](/source/Afro-Asiatic)-speaking ethnic groups, with the [Issa](/source/Issa_(clan)) [Somali](/source/Somali_people) predominant.
==Geography==
Holhol is situated on a spur of a [plateau](/source/plateau), an upland characterized by two major [wadis](/source/wadis) which run beside it. Holhol is located between the Guban Desert on the east and the Gagegando Mountains on the west. Much of the landscape is rocky and arid, with desert vegetation and wildlife.
===Ecology===
Most of the regional flora consists of [African olive tree](/source/Olea_europaea_subsp._cuspidata), [Acacia tortilis](/source/Vachellia_tortilis) with an added mixture of [Buxus hildebrandtii](/source/Buxus_hildebrandtii), [Tarchonanthus camphoratus](/source/Tarchonanthus_camphoratus), Terminalia brownie and the [Flat top acacia](/source/Vachellia_abyssinica), the [mesquite tree](/source/Prosopis_juliflora), an invasive species from [Central America](/source/Central_America), has become established. Native fauna includes the [Soemmerring's gazelle](/source/Soemmerring's_gazelle), [Hamadryas baboon](/source/Hamadryas_baboon), [Salt's dik-dik](/source/Salt's_dik-dik), [Beira](/source/Beira_(antelope)), [African spurred tortoise](/source/African_spurred_tortoise), several species of [Somali elephant shrew](/source/Somali_elephant_shrew) and [Yellow-spotted rock hyrax](/source/Yellow-spotted_rock_hyrax), [Somali ostrich](/source/Somali_ostrich), [Black-backed jackal](/source/Black-backed_jackal). [Hyena](/source/Hyena) may be observed on occasion, on the fringes of settled areas. In August 2023, the once-common [Cheetah](/source/Northeast_African_cheetah) was finally witnessed in the Holhol area for the first time in over more than 30 years.[{{cite web|url=https://groundup.org.za/article/cheetah-spotted-in-djibouti-for-the-first-time-in-over-30-years/ |publisher=GroundUp |title=Cheetah spotted in Djibouti for the first time in over 30 years }}] Other issues faces are soil erosion and [overgrazing](/source/overgrazing). All of these environmental issues produce [soil degradation](/source/soil_degradation).
===Climate===
Holhol is located in the central [Ali Sabieh Region](/source/Ali_Sabieh_Region), and has a [hot arid climate](/source/hot_arid_climate) (''BWh'') under the [Köppen-Geiger system](/source/K%C3%B6ppen-Geiger_climate_classification_system), characterised by hot to sweltering, dry summers and mild winters with limited [rainfall](/source/rainfall).
Average high temperatures are between {{convert|34|C}} and {{convert|38|°C}} during [summer months](/source/summer), and it can sometimes rise up to {{convert|41|C}} during [heat waves](/source/heat_waves), and it can occasionally drop to below {{convert|27|C}} at night. However, with low humidity and moderate temperatures at night, the climate is quite pleasant. [Winter](/source/Winter) usually sets in around the end of November, extending through early to mid-March. During the [winter months](/source/winter), average low temperatures are between {{convert|18|C}} and {{convert|19|°C}}, and it can occasionally drop to below {{convert|16|C}}. The average annual limited rainfall in Holhol is around {{convert|198|mm|in|1|disp=or}}[{{cite web|title=Climate: Holhol - Climate graph, Temperature graph, Climate table|url=http://en.climate-data.org/location/484049/|publisher=Climate-Data.org|accessdate=25 September 2013}}]
{{Weather box|location = Holhol
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|width = auto
|temperature colour = pastel
|Jan high C = 25.0
|Feb high C = 25.8
|Mar high C = 26.5
|Apr high C = 29.0
|May high C = 33.5
|Jun high C = 38.6
|Jul high C = 38.5
|Aug high C = 37.0
|Sep high C = 35.3
|Oct high C = 30.0
|Nov high C = 27.0
|Dec high C = 25.9
|Jan low C = 18.9
|Feb low C = 19.3
|Mar low C = 21.5
|Apr low C = 22.4
|May low C = 25.3
|Jun low C = 27.4
|Jul low C = 27.1
|Aug low C = 26.2
|Sep low C = 23.5
|Oct low C = 23.2
|Nov low C = 20.6
|Dec low C = 19.0
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm=5
|Feb rain mm=9
|Mar rain mm=25
|Apr rain mm=37
|May rain mm=14
|Jun rain mm=7
|Jul rain mm=11
|Aug rain mm=35
|Sep rain mm=29
|Oct rain mm=13
|Nov rain mm=7
|Dec rain mm=6
|source 1=''Climate-Data.org'', altitude: {{convert|450|m|ft|-1|disp=or}}