BAMAKO, MALI
Bamako – the capital and the largest city of Republic Mali - is located on boreal riverbank of Niger in the southwest of the country. The population of the city is about 880000 inhabitants. From the XIth till the XVth century it was the major center of Muslim faith in Empire Mali. In 1883 Bamako, being at that time a small settlement was occupied by the French army. In 1920-1958 the city has become an administrative centre of the French Sudan, in 1958-1960 -of the autonomous Sudanese Republic, and since 1960 – the capital of the Republic Mali.
Bamako plays a role of administrative, industrial, trade, financial center and the main transport unit of the republic. In the capital agricultural, mechanical engineering, light, food, polygraphic and other industries, handicraft industries (weaving, woodcarving, ivory) are developed. In the city trade in cotton, peanut oil and of oil arbor is widely led. Railways bind Bamako to Dakar, Senegal - ports on the Atlantic shore. Besides here there is an international airport.
In the capital there are colleges: administrations, dentist, engineering, medical and pedagogical, - and also some research institutes. From the places of interest it is necessary to name 2 museums and a mosque of the XIVth century near Bamako.