Bamako, Capital city in southwestern Mali
Bamako is the capital city in southwestern Mali, extending across both banks of the Niger River at an elevation of 350 meters with a population exceeding 4 million inhabitants. The international airport, railway station, and river port form a transportation network connecting it to other regions of Mali and neighboring countries.
French colonial forces under Captain Joseph-Simon Gallieni found a small settlement of several hundred inhabitants distributed among villages in 1880. The settlement grew rapidly into an important administrative center during the colonial period.
The National Museum of Mali exhibits regional prehistory collections and participates in the African Photography Encounters festival, displaying contemporary African art. Traditional mud brick structures remain present throughout the urban landscape, maintaining architectural elements from previous centuries despite modern development.
Visitors find numerous markets, shops, and restaurants distributed throughout the city area, with most establishments accessible during daytime hours. Getting around requires taxis, motorcycle taxis, or minibuses that operate across an extensive road network.
The city takes its name from a crocodile that, according to local tradition, lived in the river and was caught by hunters. This narrative remains present in oral traditions and local stories passed down through generations.
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