Gao 1255721 214467068 2008-05-23T18:17:23Z RyanLupin 931155 Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/205.124.112.3|205.124.112.3]] ([[User talk:205.124.112.3|talk]]) to last version by Mimihitam {{otheruses}} {{Infobox Settlement <!--See Template:Infobox Settlement for additional fields that may be available--> <!--See the Table at Infobox Settlement for all fields and descriptions of usage--> <!-- Basic info ----------------> |name = {{PAGENAME}} <!-- at least one of the first two fields must be filled in --> |official_name = |other_name = |native_name = <!-- if different from the English name --> |nickname = |settlement_type = <!--such as Town, Village, City, Borough etc.--> |total_type = <!-- to set a non-standard label for total area and population rows --> |motto = |translit_lang1= |translit_lang1_type= |translit_lang1_info= |translit_lang1_type1= |translit_lang1_info1= |translit_lang1_type2= |translit_lang1_info2= <!-- images and maps -----------> |image_skyline =La_Dune_Rose.jpg |imagesize =250px |image_caption =[[La Dune Rose]] and Gao city as seen from the top of the [[Tomb of Askia]]. |image_flag = |flag_size = |image_seal = |seal_size = |image_shield = |shield_size = |image_blank_emblem = |blank_emblem_type = |blank_emblem_size = |image_map = |mapsize = |map_caption = |image_map1 = |mapsize1 = |map_caption1 = |image_dot_map = |dot_mapsize = |dot_map_caption = |dot_x = |dot_y = |pushpin_map = Mali<!-- name of a location map as per Template:Location_map --> |pushpin_label_position = <!-- position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none --> |pushpin_map_caption =Location within [[Mali]] |pushpin_mapsize = <!-- Location ------------------> |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = {{MLI}} |subdivision_type1 = [[Regions of Mali|Region]] |subdivision_name1 = [[Gao Region|Gao]] |subdivision_type2 = [[Cercles of Mali|Cercle]] |subdivision_name2 = Gao |subdivision_type3 = |subdivision_name3 = |subdivision_type4 = |subdivision_name4 = <!-- Smaller parts (e.g. boroughs of a city) and seat of government --> |seat_type = |seat = |parts_type = |parts_style = <!-- =list (for list), coll (for collapsed list), para (for paragraph format) Default is list if up to 5 items, coll if more than 5--> |parts = <!-- parts text, or header for parts list --> |p1 = |p2 = <!-- etc. up to p50: for separate parts to be listed--> <!-- Politics -----------------> |government_footnotes = |government_type = |leader_title = |leader_name = |leader_title1 = <!-- for places with, say, both a mayor and a city manager --> |leader_name1 = |leader_title2 = |leader_name2 = |leader_title3 = |leader_name3 = |leader_title4 = |leader_name4 = |established_title = <!-- Settled --> |established_date = |established_title1 = <!-- Incorporated (town) --> |established_date1 = |established_title2 = <!-- Incorporated (city) --> |established_date2 = |established_title3 = |established_date3 = |founder = |named_for = <!-- Area ---------------------> |area_magnitude = <!-- use only to set a special wikilink --> |unit_pref = <!--Enter: Imperial, to display imperial before metric--> |area_footnotes = |area_total_km2 = <!-- ALL fields with measurements are subject to automatic unit conversion--> |area_land_km2 = <!--See table @ Template:Infobox Settlement for details on unit conversion--> |area_water_km2 = |area_total_dunam = <!--Used in Middle East articles only--> |area_total_sq_mi = |area_land_sq_mi = |area_water_sq_mi = |area_water_percent = |area_urban_km2 = |area_urban_sq_mi = |area_metro_km2 = |area_metro_sq_mi = |area_blank1_title = |area_blank1_km2 = |area_blank1_sq_mi = <!-- Elevation --------------------------> |elevation_footnotes = <!--for references: use <ref> </ref> tags--> |elevation_m =226 |elevation_ft =744 |elevation_max_m = |elevation_max_ft = |elevation_min_m = |elevation_min_ft = <!-- Population -----------------------> |population_as_of =2005 |population_footnotes =<ref name=pop/> |population_note = |population_total =57989 |population_density_km2 = <!--For automatic calculation, any density field may contain: auto --> |population_density_sq_mi = |population_metro = |population_density_metro_km2 = |population_density_metro_sq_mi = |population_urban = |population_density_urban_km2 = |population_density_urban_sq_mi = |population_blank1_title = |population_blank1 = |population_density_blank1_km2 = |population_density_blank1_sq_mi = <!-- General information ---------------> |timezone = [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]] |utc_offset = +0 |timezone_DST = |utc_offset_DST = | coor_type = <!-- can be used to specify what the coordinates refer to --> |latd=16 |latm=16 |lats= |latNS=N |longd=0 |longm=03 |longs= |longEW=W <!-- Area/postal codes & others --------> |postal_code_type = <!-- enter ZIP code, Postcode, Post code, Postal code... --> |postal_code = |area_code = |twin1 = |twin1_country = |twin2 = |twin2_country = |twin3 = |twin3_country = |twin4 = |twin4_country = |twin5 = |twin5_country = |twin6 = |twin6_country = |twin7 = |twin7_country = |blank_name = |blank_info = |blank1_name = |blank1_info = |blank2_name = |blank2_info = |blank3_name = |blank3_info = |blank4_name = |blank4_info = |blank5_name = |blank5_info = |blank6_name = |blank6_info = |website = |footnotes = }} [[Image:Askia.jpg|thumb|260px|Gao, the [[Tomb of Askia]].]] [[Image:Pêcheur_Bozo.JPG|thumb|260px| Bozo Fisherman on the [[River Niger]] at Gao.]] '''Gao''' is a city in [[Mali]] and capital of the [[Gao Region]] on the [[River Niger]], with a population of 57,978 in 2005.<ref name=pop>Communiqué du Conseil des ministres du 3 janvier 2007</ref> == History == Through much of its history, Gao was a center of trade and learning, and was capital of [[Songhai Empire]]. It is similar to, and culturally connected with the great Trans-Saharan trade cities of [[Timbuktu]] and [[Djenne]]. The city was founded around the [[seventh century]] as ''Kawkaw'', its first recorded monarch being [[Kanda (ruler)|Kanda]], who founded the [[Za]] dynasty of what became the [[Songhai Empire]]. He ensured the city’s growth by allowing [[trans-Saharan trade]]rs to visit and [[Berber people|Berbers]] to settle. Trade increased after [[Za Kossoi]] converted to [[Islam]] in [[1009]]. The [[Mali Empire]] conquered Gao sometime before [[1300]], but [[Ali Golon]] re-established Songhai rule. A distinguished author of the period, Al-Idrissi, described it as a "populous, unwalled, commercial and industrial town, in which were to be found the produce of all arts and trades necessary for its inhabitants". Tim Insoll from St. John's College, Cambridge University, carried out important excavations in Gao. Some of his finds have been on display at the [[British Museum]]. Particularly intriguing was an exhibit entitled: "Fragments of alabaster window surrounds and a piece of pink window glass, Gao 10th - 14th century." Under [[Sonni Ali|Ali the Great]] in the late [[fifteenth century]] the city became centre of an empire, with about 70,000 residents and a 1,000-boat [[navy]], but Gao was largely destroyed by the [[Morocco|Moroccan]] invasion of [[1591]]. The town remained small until [[France|French]] rule was imposed in the early [[twentieth century]], expanding the [[port]] and establishing a colonial base. == Culture == The population of Gao mostly speak [[Songhay languages|Songhay]] but includes many ethicities, including the [[Bozo languages|Bozo]] (traditionally nomadic river dwellers), [[Fulfulde language|Fulfulde/Fulani]] cattle herders, and [[Tuareg]] nomads, as well as [[Bambara]] peoples from western Mali. The seventh ''Festival des arts et cultures songhay'' was celebrated in February 2007 at [[Gao]], reflecting ithe cities importance as a Songhay cultural capital.<ref> Festival des arts et cultures Songhay: Un facteur d’épanouissement de la région de Gao, Les Echos du 14 février 2007</ref> == Sites == Attractions in Gao include the original [[fourteenth century]] [[Gao Mosque]], the [[Askia Tomb]] (a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]]) built in [[1495]] and incorporating another [[mosque]], a museum devoted to the [[Sahel]], [[market]]s including a night market, and [[La Dune Rose]], a [[sand dune]] named for its appearance at [[dawn]] and [[nightfall]]. == Economy == Gao has an international [[airport]] ([[Gao International Airport]]), and is linked to cities along the Niger, including [[Timbuktu]], by a [[ferry]] service. While for centuries a transit and trade hub, the tourist industry, especially serving cruises of the Niger River, has also become important to the local economy. == Area == A number of villages (including [[Bakal, Mali|Bakal]]) are along the outskirts of Gao, in the Gao district. == Sports== The stadium ''Stade Kassé Keïta'' is in Gao, and was opened for [[2002 African Cup of Nations]]. == Twin Cities == Gao is twinned with [[Thionville]], [[France]] and [[Berkeley, California]], USA. ==References== Translation of [http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gao French Wikipedia Aricle]. <references /> {{coor title dm|16|16|N|0|03|W|}} [[Category:Cities, towns and villages in Mali]] [[Category:History of Mali]] [[Category:Mali Empire]] [[Category:Songhai Empire]] [[Category:French West Africa]] [[bm:Gao]] [[bg:Гао]] [[de:Gao]] [[et:Gao]] [[el:Γκάο]] [[es:Gao]] [[fa:گائو]] [[fr:Gao]] [[id:Gao]] [[ko:가오]] [[nl:Gao (stad)]] [[ja:ガオ (都市)]] [[pl:Gao (miasto)]] [[pt:Gao]] [[fi:Gao (kaupunki)]] [[ur:گاو]] [[zh:加奥]]