Information AboutPort-gentil |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT PORT-GENTIL | |
| cities in gabon | |
| french equatorial africa | |
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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 is not 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 Wood s, particularly Okoumé for Plywood . The town was named after the French colonial administrator Émile Gentil in 1900 . After World War One 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 Hotel s and its Nightlife , while attractions include the St Louis Church (built in 1927 ), a Zoo , a Casino , Beach es and a Golf Course , as well as the Wildlife in local Swamp s. REFERENCE
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