N'Djamena, Capital city in southern Chad
N'Djamena is a capital city in southern Chad that spreads where the Chari River meets the Logone. The city sits on a flat, alluvial plain about 300 meters (roughly 980 feet) above sea level.
A French commander built a fort at this river spot in 1900. The settlement was renamed in 1973, when the new government introduced African names across the country.
Locals still often refer to the capital by its old French name, even though it was renamed decades ago. In the street markets you hear Sara, Arabic and French, showing the linguistic variety of the region.
The city sits on the border with Cameroon, with the river forming the natural dividing line. Those traveling from the airport to downtown should allow time for the long, sometimes dusty roads.
The national museum displays an ancient skull that belongs to one of the oldest human ancestors in the world. This fossil was discovered in the northern desert of the country and is now kept here.
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