Jump to content

Bissau

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Милан Животић (talk | contribs) at 23:44, 21 March 2016 (Add seal). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

This article is about the capital of Guinea-Bissau. For the town in Rajasthan, India, see Bissau, Rajasthan.
Bissau
Downtown Bissau
Downtown Bissau
Flag of Bissau
Flag
Official seal of Bissau
Seal
Country Guinea-Bissau
RegionBissau Autonomous Sector
Founded1687
Area
 • Total77.5 km2 (29.9 sq mi)
Elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2010 est.)
 • Total395,954
 • Density5,100/km2 (13,000/sq mi)
ISO 3166 codeGW-BS

Bissau is the capital city of Guinea-Bissau. In 2007 Bissau had an estimated population of 407,424.[1] Bissau is located on the Geba River estuary, off the Atlantic Ocean, and is Guinea-Bissau's largest city, major port, and its administrative and military centre.

History

The city was founded in 1687 by Portugal as a fortified port and trading center. In 1942 it became the capital of Portuguese Guinea.

After the declaration of independence by the anti-colonial guerrillas of PAIGC in 1973, the capital of the de facto independent territories was declared to be Madina do Boe. Bissau remained as the capital of the Portuguese-occupied regions, and the de jure capital of all of Portuguese Guinea. When Portugal recognized the independence of Guinea-Bissau and decolonised in 1974 due to the military coup of April 25 in Lisbon, the two territories merged and Bissau became the capital of the new independent state. The city is known for its annual carnival.

The city, as the seat of government, was the scene of intense fighting during the beginning and end of the Guinea-Bissau Civil War in 1998 and 1999.[2]

Geography and climate

Bissau is located at 11°52' North, 15°36' West (11.86667, -15.60) [1], on the Geba River estuary, off the Atlantic Ocean. The land surrounding Bissau is extremely low-lying, and the river is accessible to ocean-going vessels despite its modest discharge for about 80 kilometres (50 mi) beyond the city.

Bissau has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen Aw), not quite wet enough to qualify as a tropical monsoon climate (Am) but much wetter than most climates of its type. Almost no rain falls from November to May, but during the remaining five months of the year the city receives around 2,020 millimetres (80 in) of rain. During the wet season and even during the three months beforehand, high humidity makes heat discomfort extreme.

Climate data for Bissau, Guinea-Bissau (1974-1994)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 36.7
(98.1) 		38.3
(100.9) 		38.9
(102.0) 		41.1
(106.0) 		39.4
(102.9) 		35.6
(96.1) 		33.3
(91.9) 		32.8
(91.0) 		33.9
(93.0) 		34.4
(93.9) 		35.0
(95.0) 		35.6
(96.1) 		41.1
(106.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 31.1
(88.0) 		32.8
(91.0) 		33.9
(93.0) 		33.3
(91.9) 		32.8
(91.0) 		31.1
(88.0) 		29.4
(84.9) 		30.0
(86.0) 		30.0
(86.0) 		31.1
(88.0) 		31.7
(89.1) 		30.6
(87.1) 		31.5
(88.7)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 17.8
(64.0) 		18.3
(64.9) 		19.4
(66.9) 		20.6
(69.1) 		22.2
(72.0) 		22.8
(73.0) 		22.8
(73.0) 		22.8
(73.0) 		22.8
(73.0) 		22.8
(73.0) 		22.2
(72.0) 		18.9
(66.0) 		21.1
(70.0)
Record low °C (°F) 12.2
(54.0) 		13.3
(55.9) 		15.6
(60.1) 		16.7
(62.1) 		17.2
(63.0) 		19.4
(66.9) 		19.4
(66.9) 		19.4
(66.9) 		19.4
(66.9) 		20.0
(68.0) 		15.0
(59.0) 		12.8
(55.0) 		12.2
(54.0)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 0.5
(0.02) 		0.8
(0.03) 		0.5
(0.02) 		0.8
(0.03) 		17.3
(0.68) 		174.8
(6.88) 		472.5
(18.60) 		682.5
(26.87) 		434.9
(17.12) 		194.8
(7.67) 		41.4
(1.63) 		2.0
(0.08) 		2,022.8
(79.64)
Mean monthly sunshine hours 248 226 279 270 248 210 186 155 180 217 240 248 2,707
Source 1: Sistema de Clasificación Bioclimática Mundial[3]
Source 2: World Climate Guides (sunshine only)[4]

Demographics

The last time an official census was held in the country in 1991, Bissau had a population of 195,389. By 2007 Bissau had an estimated population of 407,424.[1]

Economy

Bissau is the country's largest city, major port, educational, administrative and military center. Peanuts, hardwoods, copra, palm oil, and rubber are the chief products. The airport that serves Bissau is Osvaldo Vieira International Airport.

Education

There are two Portuguese international schools in Bissau:[5]

Landmarks

Attractions include the Portuguese-built Fortaleza de São José da Amura barracks from the 18th century, containing Amílcar Cabral's mausoleum, the Pidjiguiti Memorial to the dockers killed in the Bissau Dockers' Strike on August 3, 1959, the Guinea-Bissau National Arts Institute, Bissau New Stadium and local beaches.

Many buildings in the city were ruined during the Guinea-Bissau Civil War (1998–1999), including the Guinea-Bissau Presidential Palace and the Bissau French Cultural Centre (now rebuilt), and the city centre is still underdeveloped.

  • View of Bissau from Geba River
    View of Bissau from Geba River
  • Bissau Cathedral
    Bissau Cathedral
  • Ministério da Justiça - Guinea-Bissau`s Justice Ministry
    Ministério da Justiça - Guinea-Bissau`s Justice Ministry
  • Che Guevara Square, Bissau
    Che Guevara Square, Bissau
  • The road from the airport to the Parliament
    The road from the airport to the Parliament
  • Public transport in Bissau
    Public transport in Bissau
  • A landmark monument in the city center
    A landmark monument in the city center
  • An ECOWAS branch in Bissau
    An ECOWAS branch in Bissau
  • PAIGC's headquarters
    PAIGC's headquarters
  • Residential area in Bissau
    Residential area in Bissau
  • Ruins of the former presidential palace
    Ruins of the former presidential palace
  • French Culture Centre in Bissau
    French Culture Centre in Bissau
  • Amílcar Cabral Bridge
    Amílcar Cabral Bridge
  • Central Post Office building
    Central Post Office building
  • Bissau seen from Rio Geba
    Bissau seen from Rio Geba

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Guinea-Bissau
A satellite view of Bissau, 2002.

Twin towns – Sister cities

Bissau is twinned with:

References

  1. ^ a b Instituto Nacional de Estatística e Censos
  2. ^ Uppsala Conflict Data Program Conflict Encyclopedia, Guinea Bissau: government, in depth, viewed July 12, 2013, http://www.ucdp.uu.se/gpdatabase/gpcountry.php?id=68&regionSelect=2-Southern_Africa#
  3. ^ "GUINEA-BISSAU - BISSAU". Centro de Investigaciones Fitosociológicas. Retrieved 2011-10-04.
  4. ^ "Bissau Climate Guide". Centro de Investigaciones Fitosociológicas. Retrieved 2011-10-04.
  5. ^ "ESCOLAS COM CURRÍCULO PORTUGUÊS NA GUINÉ-BISSAU" (Archive). Direção de Serviços de Ensino e Escolas Portuguesas no Estrangeiro (DSEEPE) of the Portuguese Education Ministry. Retrieved on October 26, 2015.
  6. ^ "Lisboa - Geminações de Cidades e Vilas". Associação Nacional de Municípios Portugueses [National Association of Portuguese Municipalities] (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2013-08-23. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ "Acordos de Geminação, de Cooperação e/ou Amizade da Cidade de Lisboa". Camara Municipal de Lisboa (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2013-08-23. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ "Geminação com Bissau e Gabu é reforço para lusofonia"

Further reading

  • Lobban, Richard Andrew, Jr.; Mendy, Peter Karibe (1997). Historical Dictionary of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau (3rd ed.). Scarecrow Press. pp. 91–96. ISBN 0-8108-3226-7.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  • Media related to Bissau at Wikimedia Commons
  • Bissau travel guide from Wikivoyage
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bissau&oldid=711285810"