Porto-Novo
Porto-Novo
Ajashe, Hogbonu | |
|---|---|
Capital city and commune | |
Skyline of Porto-Novo Grande Mosquee Porto-Novo Porto Novo Cathedral Pirogues sur lagune of Porto-Novo Front view of the Grande Mosquee Porto-Novo The statue of the King Toffa I Ouando Market Jardin des plantes et de la nature Charles de Gaulle stadium | |
Location in Benin | |
| Coordinates: 6°29′50″N 2°36′18″E / 6.49722°N 2.60500°E | |
| Country | Benin |
| Department | Ouémé |
| Established | 16th century |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Emmanuel Zossou |
| Area | |
| 110 km2 (40 sq mi) | |
| • Metro | 110 km2 (40 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 38 m (125 ft) |
| Population (2013) | |
| 285,000 | |
| • Density | 2,600/km2 (6,700/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (WAT) |
| Website | N/A |
Porto-Novo (Portuguese for 'New Port', Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈpoɾtu ˈnovu], French pronunciation: [pɔʁtɔnɔvo]; Yoruba: Àjàṣẹ́; Fon: Xɔ̀gbónù; also known as Hogbonu and Ajashe) is the capital and second-largest city of Benin. The commune covers an area of 110 square kilometres (42 sq mi) and as of 2002 had a population of 223,552 people.
In 1863, following British bombardment, Porto-Novo accepted French protection, and by 1900, it became the capital of French Dahomey. After Benin's independence in 1960, Porto-Novo retained its status as the official capital, while Cotonou emerged as the economic and administrative hub.
Situated on an inlet of the Gulf of Guinea, in the southeastern portion of the country, the city was originally developed as a port for the transatlantic slave trade led by the Portuguese Empire. It is Benin's second-largest city, and although it is the official capital, where the national legislature sits, the larger city of Cotonou is the seat of government, where most of the government buildings are situated and government departments operate.