Cotonou

Cotonou

Cotonou, the port city and de facto capital of Benin, along the Gulf of Guinea. It was originally part of the Kingdom of Dahomey and the starting point of the so-called Benin-Niger Railway line, which stretches 439 km northwards, but ends in the center of Benin, at Parakou. The modern artificial deepwater port of Cotonou serves both Benin and neighboring Togo. The Fon name "Cotonou" means "by the river of death". In the early 19th century, Cotonou was a small fishing village and is believed to have been officially founded by King Ghezo of Dahomey in 1830. The town grew into a center for the slave trade and later for the palm oil and cotton trade. Today, Cotonou is the economic center of Benin and the largest urban center in the country. Important industrial sectors include brewing, textile production and palm oil processing. The President and most ministers live in the city, and the National University of Benin is also based there. Cotonou is far from the most attractive city, but it has some interesting sights. The city's busy Muslim quarter is home to the city's huge main mosque, and the beach has great ocean views.