Bamako : Ask Biography

Administration

Full name

Bamako

Official name

Bamako

Settlement type

Capital City and Cercle

Country

Mali

Region

Bamako Capital District

Cercle

Bamako

Government

Type

Capitol District

Marie du District

Adama Sangaré

Geography

Total Area

97.3 sq mi (252 km2)

Elevation

1148.3 ft (350 m)

Demography

Total Population

1809106 (1 April 2009)

Density (pop.)

auto/km² (0/sq mi)

Other information

Time zone

Coordinated Universal Time (UTC-0)

Home | City | Bamako

Bamako is the capital of Mali and its largest city with a population of 1.8 million (2009 Census, provisional). Currently, it is estimated to be the fastest growing city in Africa and sixth fastest in the world. It is located on the Niger River, near the rapids that divide the upper and middle Niger valleys in the southwestern part of the country.

Bamako is the nation's administrative center. The city proper is cercle by its own right. Bamako's river port is located in nearby Koulikoro along with a major regional trade and conference center. Bamako is the seventh largest West African urban center after Lagos, Abidjan, Kano, Ibadan, Dakar and Accra. Local manufactures include textiles, processed meat, and metal goods. There is commercial fishing on the Niger River.

The name Bamako comes from the Bambara word meaning "crocodile river".