'Yaoundé', (), is the
capital city of
Cameroon and second largest city in the country after
Douala. It lies in the centre of the nation at about 750 metres above
sea level.
History
Yaoundé was founded in
1888 by
German traders as a base for the
ivory trade and an agricultural research station. It was occupied by
Belgian troops during
World War I and, following the war, became the capital of
French Cameroon. It has continued as the capital of the Republic of Cameroon until the present day.
Economy
Major industries in Yaoundé include
cigarettes,
dairy products, breweries,
clay,
glass goods, and
lumber. Yaoundé is a regional distribution center for
coffee,
cacao,
copra,
sugar cane, and
rubber.
Places of interest
The city centre houses government offices, some large (and expensive) hotels, and the central market. The exclusive Bastos neighbourhood is home to foreign embassies, a large expatriate European community (drawn mainly from the diplomatic corps), and luxury houses belonging to the very wealthiest of Cameroonians. The presidential palace and compound is in the
Etoudi neighborhood.
Also found in Yaoundé are the
Cameroon Art Museum (located in a former
Benedictine monastery), the
Cameroon National Museum (located in the former presidential palace), and the
Afhemi Museum. There is a small zoo in the Mvog-Betsi neighbourhood.
Yaoundé has an assortment of nightclubs and restaurants. The city also boasts some unusual and surprisingly modern architecture, particularly with regards to many of the government ministries.
Transportation
Yaoundé Nsimalen International Airport is a major civilian hub, while nearby
Yaoundé Airport is used by the military.
Railway lines run south to the port city of
Douala and north to
N'Gaoundéré. Many bus companies operate from the city, particularly in the Nsam and Mvan neighborhoods. Frequent express buses run along the unusually well-maintained motorway between Yaoundé and Douala. Traffic in the city can be heavy.
Markets
Mokolo is among the biggest of the numerous markets in the city. There is also a large supermarket ("Score") situated in the city centre.
Sports
The national
football (soccer) team plays frequent matches in the
Ahmadou Ahidjo (or Omnisport) stadium.
Education
Yaoundé is the site of several universities, including the
University of Yaoundé I,
University of Yaoundé II (on a campus outside of town), and the
Catholic University for Central Africa (UCAC).
References
External links
★
Rail Map (red dots)
★
Image of Yaoundé from Google Earth