| Cotonou | |
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  Cotonou
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country |  Benin |
| Department | Littoral Department |
| Population (2006) | |
| - Total | 761,137 |
Cotonou is the economic capital of Benin, as well as its largest city. Benin (bə'nɪn officially the Republic of Benin, and also known as Benin Republic, is a country in Western Africa. Littoral is one of the twelve departments of Benin, and is divided into 13 Arrondissements It contains just one commune/city Cotonou, the largest Benin (bə'nɪn officially the Republic of Benin, and also known as Benin Republic, is a country in Western Africa. Its official population count was 761,137 inhabitants in 2006; however, some estimates indicate its population may be as high as 1. 2 million. The population in 1960 was only 70,000. The urban area continues to expand, notably towards the west. The city lies in the southeast of the country, between the Atlantic Ocean and Nokoué Lake, located at 6°22' North, 2°26' East (6. Lake Nokoué is a Lake in southern Benin. It is 20 km wide and 11 km long and is located at, north of Cotonou. 36667, 2. 4333). [1]
In addition to being Benin's largest city, it houses many of its government and diplomatic services; thus, it is Benin's de facto capital, even though the official capital is Porto-Novo. The city is best known as a major port, thanks to the Autonomous Port of Cotonou; it is also home to an airport and a railway that links to Parakou. ||-||-|-||-||-||-||-||-||-|} A port is a facility for receiving Ships and transferring cargo An airport is a location where Aircraft such as airplanes, Helicopters and blimps take off and land "Railroad" and "Railway" both redirect here For other uses see Railroad (disambiguation. Parakou is the largest city in northern Benin, with a population of around 182 Other features of Cotonou include Cotonou Friendship Stadium, Cotonou Cathedral, Cotonou Central Mosque and the 20-hectare Dantokpa Market, which includes a fetish market and has a commercial turnover of over a billion CFA Francs a day. The CFA franc (in French: franc CFA, "céfa" or just franc colloquially is a currency used in twelve formerly French -ruled The National University of Benin is located in Cotonou. The National University of Benin ( Université Nationale du Bénin is the principal University in the country of Benin. Another familiar feature of the city is the motorcycle-taxis known as Zémidjans. MotorCycle is the title of a 1993 album by Rock band Daniel Amos, released on BAI Records. A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of Public transport for a single passenger or small group of passengers typically for a non-shared ride A zémidjan (also called zem) is a type of taxi found in Benin.
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History
The name 'Cotonou' means 'the mouth of the river of death' in the Fon language. Fon (native name Fɔn gbè fɔ̃̄ɡ͡bè is part of the Gbe language cluster and belongs to the Volta-Niger branch of the Niger-Congo languages At the beginning of the 19th century, Cotonou (then spelled Kotonou) was merely a small fishing village. The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar Originally dominated by the Kingdom of Dahomey, in 1851 the French made a treaty with the Dahomean King Ghezo that allowed them to establish a trading post at Cotonou. 1851 ( MDCCCLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common year This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Ghezo was the ninth King of Dahomey (now Benin) considered one of the greatest of the twelve historical kings During the reign of Glele, his successor (1858-89), the territory was ceded to France by a treaty signed on May 19, 1868. Badohou who took the throne name Glele, is considered (if Adandozan is not counted to be the tenth King of Dahomey (now Benin) This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Events 1535 - French explorer Jacques Cartier sets sail on his second voyage to North America with three ships 110 men and Year 1868 ( MDCCCLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap In 1883, the French navy occupied the city to prevent British conquest of the area. Year 1883 ( MDCCCLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located After Glele's death in 1889, his son Behanzin tried, unsuccessfully, to challenge the treaty. Béhanzin ( 1844 - December 10 1906, in Blida, Algeria) is considered the eleventh (if Adandozan is not counted King From then on, the town developed quickly.
Demographic evolution
Transportation and economy
The Autonomous Port of Cotonou is one of the largest ports in West Africa. Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The city is connected to Parakou in the north of the country by the Benin-Niger railway. Parakou is the largest city in northern Benin, with a population of around 182 Cotonou International Airport provides service to the capitals of the region and to France, as well as the major cities of Benin: Parakou, Kandi, Natitingou, Djougou, and Savè. Cotonou Cadjehoun Airport is an Airport located in Cotonou, the biggest city in Benin in West Africa. Kandi is a town in northern Benin. Originally a Market town, Kandi is now primarily a Farming centre Natitingou is a town in north western Benin. It is about 50 km from Benin's Penjari National Park where tourists can see West African wildlife during the months of December Djougou is the largest city in north west Benin, with a population of 228 There are also road connections to several neighboring countries: Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Togo. TOGO was a Japanese roller coaster design company famous for inventing the Stand-up roller coaster.
Because of these connections, Cotonou has become a crossroads of West African commerce, with much trade moving here from Abidjan because of the Ivorian Civil War. Abidjan is the largest city and former Capital of Côte d'Ivoire ( Ivory Coast) Context of the conflict The civil war revolves around a number of issues particularly The end of the 30-year presidency of Félix Houphouët-Boigny forced The city is a so-called 'market town,' enabling trade with the countries of the African interior, such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Mali, officially the Republic of Mali (République du Mali is a Landlocked nation in Western Africa. Burkina Faso (bɚˌkiːnəˈfɑːsoʊ burr-KEE-na FAH-soh) also known by its short-form name Burkina, is a Landlocked nation in West Africa Niger ( or /ˈnaɪdʒɚ/) officially the Republic of Niger, is a Landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. In addition to the port, there is a free trade zone in the interior of the city for use by the landlocked Saharan states. A free trade zone ( FTZ) or export processing zone ( EPZ) is one or more special areas of a country where some normal Trade barriers such as However, the city is rife with corruption and illegal trade, especially with neighboring Nigeria. Nigeria, officially named the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal Constitutional republic comprising thirty-six states and one Federal It can be considered the economic capital as it houses two-thirds of Benin's industries and is the headquarters of the nation's major enterprises and banks.
Important manufactured goods include palm oil and cake, brewing, textiles, and cement. Palm oil is an edible plant oil derived from the Fruit of the Arecaceae Elaeis Oil palm. Brewing is the production of Alcoholic beverage and Alcohol fuel through fermentation. A textile is a flexible material comprised of a network of natural or artificial Fibres often referred to as thread or Yarn. In the most general sense of the word a cement is a binder a substance which sets and hardens independently and can bind other materials together Motor vehicles and bicycles are assembled, and there are also sawmills in the city. The bicycle, cycle, or bike is a pedal-driven, human-powered vehicle with two wheels attached to a frame, one behind A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards Sawmill process A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of 100 years ago a log enters Petroleum products, bauxite, and iron are major exports. Petroleum ( L petroleum, from Greek πετρέλαιον, lit Bauxite is the most important Aluminium Ore. It consists largely of the minerals Gibbsite Al(OH3 Boehmite γ-AlO(OH and Iron (ˈаɪɚn is a Chemical element with the symbol Fe (ferrum and Atomic number 26 There are also offshore platforms drilling for oil. Petroleum ( L petroleum, from Greek πετρέλαιον, lit The city is also a center for the automotive trade, with European brands being sold from vast open-air parking lots.
In Missebo area, Cotonou is a textile market of African Print mainly handled by Indian wholesalers and retailers.
See also
External links
- Cotonou is at coordinates Coordinates:
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