Mopti
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| Mopti | |
| — Commune and town — | |
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  Mopti
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| Coordinates: 14°30′N 4°12′W / 14.5°N 4.2°W | |
| Country |  Mali |
|---|---|
| Regions of Mali | Mopti Region |
| Cercle | Mopti Cercle |
| islands |
List
New Town
Old Town Bani |
| Elevation [1] | 275 m (905 ft) |
| Population (2006)[2] | |
| - Total | 110,359 |
| estimate | |
| Time zone | GMT (UTC0) |
Mopti (Pronounced Mohti) is a city at the confluence of the Niger and the Bani in Mali, between Timbuktu and Ségou. The city lies on three islands linked by dykes: the New Town, the Old Town and Medina Coura. As a result it is sometimes known as the "Venice of Mali".
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[edit] History
The city of Mopti derives its name from the Fulfulde word for gathering. The islands had long been inhabited, but Mopti was only founded in the nineteenth century as part of the Massina Empire, later becoming the base of El Hadj Umar Tall. With French domination, Mopti became known for its egret feather industry.
Due to the limited land available, Mopti is very densely built compared to most Malian cities, containing many multi-story buildings and narrow streets. Originally, the islands were much smaller than they are today; first linked by dykes in the early twentieth century, the areas around and between natural islands have been gradually filled and raised -- often by deposition of household trash, a process that still continues today in areas such as the western edge of the Old Town.
Mopti is the capital of the 5th administrative region of Mali, the Région de Mopti.
In 2002, Mopti was one of several Malian cities to host the Cup of African Nations tournament. A large, modern stadium was constructed for this event.
Amadou Toumani Touré, current president of Mali, is a native of Mopti.
[edit] Industry
Mopti is the region's commercial center and Mali's most important port; markets around its harbour sell salt from the Sahara, among many other goods. Fishing, herding, and agriculture (particularly riziculture) also continue to be important to the local economy.
[edit] Tourist industry
Mopti is popular with tourists, having an active river port, a mosque, and across the Niger, small fishing villages. Attractions in Mopti include Mopti Grand Mosque and the nearby Pays Dogon. There are several popular hotels, the Hotel Kanaga, Hotel Y a pas de Problème, and Hotel Ambedjele which is on the road to Sevare.
[edit] Transport
Ferries connect Mopti with Timbuktu, Gao, Koulikoro and Djenné. A causeway links the town to Sévaré, the actual location of Mopti's airport.
[edit] Demographics
Mopti is the fourth-largest city in Mali, with an estimated 110,000 residents, primarily of the Bambara, Bozo, Dogon, Songhai and Fula ethnic groups.
 Mopti Grand Mosque |
 Busy market |
 boats at harbour |
 Market scene |
 Countryside near Sévaré in the commune of Mopti |
[edit] References
- ^ Falling Rain geographic statistics: Mopti, Mali Page.
- ^ Columbia International Affairs Online Data Provided by the Economist Intelligence Unit.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Mopti |
- Photo 1 Photo 2
- Pictures of Mopti and villages around it
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