Everything about Port Gentil totally explained
Port-Gentil (1993 est. pop. 80,000) is the second-largest
city of
Gabon and a leading
seaport. It is the center of Gabon's
petroleum and
timber industries. Although it lies inshore, the nearby mainland is a remote forest area and it isn't connected by road to the rest of the nation. The city lies close to
Cape Lopez, the westernmost point in Gabon.
The settlement was established on
Mandji Island in the delta of the
Ogowe River by the
French, who signed a treaty with the
Orungu people in
1873. It was used as a base for the expeditions of
de Brazza into the interior, then in
1894 a
customs post was set up, becoming the nucleus of a trading center that included
Hatton & Cookson,
John Holt,
Woermann,
Société du Haut-Ogooué, and
Compagnie d'Exploitations Forestières Africaines. The main products were initially
rubber and
ivory, gradually supplemented by
woods, particularly
okoumé for
plywood.
The town was named after the French colonial administrator
Émile Gentil in
1900. After
World War I it became a port for
timber, but it grew rapidly only after
Elf began
oil exploration in the area.
A 1947 population of 4,500 grew to 21,000 by 1960. An
oil refinery was established by
SOGARA in the
1960s, with
natural gas added in
1968.
The town is now known for its
hotels and its
nightlife, while attractions include the
St Louis Church (built in
1927), a
zoo, a
casino,
beaches and a
golf course, as well as the
wildlife in local
swamps.
Transportation
Port Gentil is technically on an island, and no bridge connects it to the mainland. The limited number of paved roads within the city are also poorly maintained. It has an airport serving as the main channel of transportation with the world. Regular flights are operated from the airport to
Libreville, capital of
Gabon. Oil company charters to other destinations are a regular sight from the airport.
Gallery
Image:POG-Street 1.JPG
Image:POG-Street 2.JPG
Image:POG-Street 3.JPG
Further Information
Get more info on 'Port Gentil'.
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