Libreville
Libreville | ||
---|---|---|
Capital district Libreville | | |
Area | ||
• Land | 65.42 km2 (25.26 sq mi) | |
• Metro | 189 km2 (73 sq mi) | |
Population (2013 census) | ||
• City | 703,904 | |
HDI (2018) | 0.738[1] high | |
Website | www |
Libreville is the capital and largest city of Gabon. Occupying 65 square kilometres (25 sq mi) in the northwestern province of Estuaire, Libreville is a port on the Komo River, near the Gulf of Guinea. As of the 2013 census, its population was 703,904.[2]
The area has been inhabited by the Mpongwe people since before the French acquired the land in 1839. It was later an American Christian mission, and a slave resettlement site, before becoming the chief port of the colony of French Equatorial Africa. By the time of Gabonese independence in 1960, the city was a trading post and minor administrative centre with a population of 32,000. Since 1960, Libreville has grown rapidly and now is home to one-third of the national population.
History
Various native peoples lived in or used the area that is now Libreville before colonization, including the
American missionaries from New England established a mission in Baraka, Gabon, on what is now Libreville, in 1842. In 1846, the Brazilian slave ship L'Elizia, carrying slaves from the Congo, was captured near Loango by the French navy which was tasked with contributing to the British Blockade of Africa. Fifty-two of the freed slaves were resettled on the site of Libreville (French for "Freetown") in 1849.[4] Following the French Revolution of 1848 and establishment of the French Second Republic, the former slaves organized an election to select leaders of the new village in 1849. A former slave named Mountier was elected Mayor of Libreville.[5] Libreville was the administrative capital of France's Congo-Gabon colony between 1888 and 1904, when the capital moved to Brazzaville.[6]
In 1910, Gabon became part of
With national independence on the horizon, Léon M'ba won Libreville's first free mayoral election in 1956.[8] Mba was later the first president of independent Gabon. The city's population was only 32,000 at independence, but grew rapidly thereafter. It now houses one-third of the national population.
Geography
From north to south, major districts of the city are the
Climate
Libreville features a tropical monsoon climate (Am) with a lengthy wet season and a short dry season. The city's wet season spans about nine months (September through May), with a great deal of rain falling during these months. Its dry season lasts from June through August, and is caused by the cold Benguela Current reaching its northernmost extent and suppressing rainfall. Despite the lack of rain, Libreville remains very cloudy during this time of year.
As is common with many cities with this climate, average temperatures remain relatively constant throughout the course of the year, with average high temperatures at around 29 °C (84 °F).
Climate data for Libreville (1961–1990) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 29.5 (85.1) |
30.0 (86.0) |
30.2 (86.4) |
30.1 (86.2) |
29.4 (84.9) |
27.6 (81.7) |
26.4 (79.5) |
26.8 (80.2) |
27.5 (81.5) |
28.0 (82.4) |
28.4 (83.1) |
29.0 (84.2) |
28.6 (83.5) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 26.8 (80.2) |
27.0 (80.6) |
27.1 (80.8) |
26.6 (79.9) |
26.7 (80.1) |
25.4 (77.7) |
24.3 (75.7) |
24.3 (75.7) |
25.4 (77.7) |
25.7 (78.3) |
25.9 (78.6) |
26.2 (79.2) |
25.9 (78.6) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 24.1 (75.4) |
24.0 (75.2) |
23.9 (75.0) |
23.1 (73.6) |
24.0 (75.2) |
23.2 (73.8) |
22.1 (71.8) |
21.8 (71.2) |
23.2 (73.8) |
23.4 (74.1) |
23.4 (74.1) |
23.4 (74.1) |
23.3 (73.9) |
Average rainfall mm (inches) | 250.3 (9.85) |
243.1 (9.57) |
363.2 (14.30) |
339.0 (13.35) |
247.3 (9.74) |
54.1 (2.13) |
6.6 (0.26) |
13.7 (0.54) |
104.0 (4.09) |
427.2 (16.82) |
490.0 (19.29) |
303.2 (11.94) |
2,841.7 (111.88) |
Average rainy days | 17.9 | 14.8 | 19.5 | 19.2 | 16.0 | 3.7 | 1.7 | 4.9 | 14.5 | 25.0 | 22.6 | 17.6 | 177.4 |
Average relative humidity (%)
|
86 | 84 | 84 | 84 | 84 | 81 | 81 | 81 | 84 | 87 | 87 | 86 | 84 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 175.2 | 176.8 | 176.9 | 176.8 | 159.5 | 130.6 | 119.2 | 90.4 | 95.9 | 112.9 | 134.6 | 167.8 | 1,716.6 |
Source: NOAA[10] |
Transport
Léon-Mba International Airport is the largest airport in Gabon and is located around 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) north of the city.
National Taxis operate around the city. Each district has a colour for its taxis and Libreville's is red.
The National Society of Transport (SOGATRA) launched new taxis that operate on a counter system in 2014.[11]
The Gabonese Transport Company operates a bus service to all districts of Libreville.
Landmarks
- Arboretum de Sibang[citation needed]
- Palais du bord de mer
- National Museum of Arts, Rites and Traditions of Gabon (Musee National des Arts, Rites et Traditions)
Education
The Omar Bongo University was founded in 1970.
There are several high-end international schools in Libreville, including:
- American International School of Libreville – American curriculum
- Lycée Blaise Pascal de Libreville – French curriculum
- International School of Gabon Ruban Vert – IB curriculum
Places of worship
Among the
Languages
Libreville is one of several African cities where French is truly becoming a native language,[13] with some local features.
Economy
The city is home to a
The French Army's 6th Marine Infantry Battalion is based in the north of the city.
Notable residents
- Nadège Noële Ango-Obiang, writer and economist
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, footballer who plays for Olympique de Marseille and the Gabon Team[18]
- Larissa FC and the Gabon National Team
- Marcel Lefebvre, traditionalist Roman Catholic bishop, served as a missionary in Libreville
- Léon M'ba, first Prime Minister and first President of Gabon
- Anthony Obame, Olympic silver medalist in the men's Taekwondo 80+ kg at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
- Charles Tchen, Honorary consul for the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Gabon
- Chris Silva, professional basketball player for the Miami Heat
- Simone Saint-Dénis, trade union leader
References
- ^ "Sub-national HDI – Area Database – Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
- ^ "GeoHive – Gabon". 22 October 2015. Archived from the original on 6 September 2011.
- ^ "Gabon". The Lion King Magazine. July–September 2017. p. 26. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
- ^ Britannica, Libreville, britannica.com, USA, accessed on June 30, 2019
- ^ "Historique de la Ville". Mairie de Libreville. 13 November 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
- ^ "Historique de la Ville". Mairie de Libreville. 13 November 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
- ^ Roman Adrian Cybriwsky, Capital Cities around the World: An Encyclopedia of Geography, History, and Culture, ABC-CLIO, USA, 2013, p. 154
- ^ Zuber, David (31 March 2022). "LÉON M'BA (1902-1967)". Retrieved 12 October 2022.
- ^ "Libreville Geography – Information, climate and weather in Libreville". libreville.com.
- ^ "Libreville Climate Normals 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 10 September 2015.
- ^ [1] Archived 14 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Britannica, Gabon, britannica.com, USA, accessed on July 7, 2019
- ^ (in French) "De plus, le français est également devenu la langue maternelle de plus de 30 % des Librevillois et il est de plus en plus perçu comme une langue gabonaise." Archived 29 May 2010 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Libreville – safari gateway into Gabon". Zambezi.com. 19 June 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
- ^ Gabon Airlines: Mentions légales Retrieved 8 October 2009
- ^ World Airline Directory. Flight International. 16–22 March 2004. "64"
- ^ World Airline Directory. Flight International. 23–29 March 2004. 78
- ^ Press Association (26 November 2013). "Borussia Dortmund 3-1 Napoli | Champions League Group F Match Report | Football". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
Bibliography
External links
- (in French) Site officiel de la Mairie de Libreville