Abidjan

Abidjan is the largest city and former capital of Côte d'Ivoire. Abidjan, the de facto (and former) capital, is the commercial and banking center of Côte d'Ivoire. It stands in Ébrié Lagoon on several converging peninsulas and islands, connected by bridges. The city is a study in contrasts. On one hand the city is hot and humid, congested and full of street hawkers. On the other hand, Abidjan is referred to as the "Paris of West Africa" because of its parks, broad boulevards, universities, exotic fashions and museums. Districts include Cocody, an upscale residential area located east of the modern business district, and Treichville, located southward on Petit-Bassam Island, with its busy traditional market. Banco National Park lies north of the city. Abidjan harbors numerous government departments. It is also the hub of the national road system and the terminus of the Abidjan-Niger Railway, which extends northward into Burkina Faso.

Related Topics:
Capital - Côte d'Ivoire - Bank - Ébrié Lagoon - Peninsula - Island - Bridge - Park - Universities - Museum - Cocody - Treichville - Petit-Bassam Island - Banco - Road - Abidjan-Niger Railway - Burkina Faso

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Abidjan's modern port opened in 1950, when the Vridi Canal was cut through a sandbar, linking the Ébrié Lagoon with the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean. Formerly West Africa's pre-eminent port, Abidjan is attempting to bring back traffic which veered to other ports during Côte d'Ivoire's political unrest. Since a military putsch in December 1999, as well as widespread civil unrest in the ensuing years, traffic has switched to other main regional ports such as Accra, Lome, Cotonou and Dakar. Xenophobia and harassment of foreigners, as well as numerous illegal roadblocks along the country's roads, have further discouraged shippers from using Abidjan's port. The Abidjan Port Authority has invited delegations of shippers from the landlocked countries of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger -- which have seen increased difficulty in imports due to Abidjan's problems -- to working sessions to discuss improvements in the situation.

Related Topics:
Port - 1950 - Vridi Canal - Sandbar - Gulf of Guinea - Atlantic Ocean - Africa - Côte d'Ivoire - 1999 - Mali - Burkina Faso - Niger

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