LOME, TOGO
Lome is the capital (since 1960) and the largest city of Togo based at the end of the XIXth century on the place of fishing village. Before the First World War it was an administrative centre of the German possession by Togo, and later – of the French Togo. The population is about 513000 inhabitants.
The city is located on boggy austral shore of the country in the Gulf of Guinea and is the basic port of Togo on the Atlantic Ocean. It also serves as the main transport unit, the administrative and economic center of the country. The large part of international trade of this small state passes through this port enlarged and deepened in 1968 to serve ocean crafts. From Lome the small ships guiding to river ports of the countries of the Western Africa (Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali) depart. From here they export cotton, coffee, and cocoa. In the city alimentary, textile, oil refining, easy, and cotton-cleaning industries are developed. The international airport works.
In the city the university of Benin and National school of administration are open. Tourists can have a glance at the National museum. Lome is very picturesque, rich potherb, especially in the most luxury residential and administrative quarters.