Yaoundé
|
Location of Yaoundé in Cameroon |
Yaoundé,
«yah oon DAY», estimated population 1,430,000 (
2004), 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. Yaoundé is located at 3°52' North, 11°31' East (3.8667, 11.51667). [
1]
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.
Major industries in Yaounde include
cigarettes,
dairy products, breweries,
clay,
glass goods, and
lumber. Yaoundé is a regional distribution center for
coffee,
cacao,
copra,
sugar cane, and
rubber.
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. Attractions include 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. The city is also home to an international
airport, while
railway lines run to
Douala and
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 Yaounde and Douala.
The city has numerous markets, with the market at Mokolo being one of the biggest. There is also a large supermarket ("Score") situated in the city centre. The national football team plays frequent matches in the
Ahmadou Ahidjo (or Omnisport) stadium. Yaoundé is also the site of several universities, including the
University of Yaoundé I,
University of Yaounde II (on a campus outside of town) and the
Catholic University for Central Africa (UCAC). The presidential palace and compound is in the
Etoudi neighborhood.
Compared to the hotter, noisier Douala, Yaounde is cooler and somewhat more easy-going, with an excellent selection of nightclubs and restaurants, although the traffic can be a nightmare for the tourist. The city also boasts some unusual and surprisingly modern architecture, particularly with regards to many of the government ministries.
The city is served by
Yaoundé Nsimalen International Airport.
