Abidjan is the economic capital of Ivory Coast and is the most populated West African French-speaking city. Its population, according to the countrys authorities in 2011, was 12,783,906 inhabitants in the agglomeration, and 6,351,086 inhabitants in the city, which is 20% of the overall population of the country. Only Lagos, the old capital of Nigeria, surpasses it in number of inhabitants in the region. Considered the cultural crossroads of West Africa, Abidjan is characterized by a high level of industrialization and urbanization.The city grew up quickly after the construction of a new wharf in 1931 and its designation as the capital city of the then-French colony in 1933. The completion of the Vridi Canal in 1951 enabled it to become an important sea port. In 1983 Yamoussoukro was designated as the official capital city of Ivory Coast, but almost all political institutions and foreign embassies are still in Abidjan.Contents [hide] 1 Geography1.1 Climate1.2 Territorial division1.2.1 Northern Abidjan1.2.2 Southern Abidjan1.2.3 Suburbs2 Origin of the name "Abidjan"3 History3.1 Colonial era3.2 After independence4 Politics4.1 Administration4.1.1 Organisation5 Places of interest5.1 Government institutions5.2 Security5.2.1 Police5.2.2 Drugs5.3 French military base5.4 Relationships and partnerships5.4.1 Diplomacy and international bodies5.4.2 Sister cities5.5 Miscellaneous6 Society6.1 Demographics6.2 Languages6.3 Education6.4 Health6.5 Urbanism and habitat6.5.1 Problems with urban network6.5.2 Urban squalor6.5.3 Urban rehabilitation7 Economy8 Industry8.1 Tertiary sector8.2 Electricity8.3 Telecommunication and ICT8.4 Banking system8.5 Transportation8.5.1 Transport8.5.2 Taxis8.5.3 Airport8.5.4 Circulation8.5.5 Port8.5.6 Bridges8.5.7 Trains and trams8.6 Tourism8.6.1 Parc du Banco (Banco National Park)8.6.2 Night life9 Culture9.1 Religious buildings9.2 Monuments and museums9.3 Cinema9.3.1 Festivals9.3.2 Abidjan in cinema9.4 Music9.5 Media9.5.1 Television and radio9.5.2 Press9.5.3 Internet and digital TV9.5.4 Television channels9.6 Festivals and cultural events9.6.1 Theatre9.6.2 Dance9.6.3 Fashion9.6.4 Other10 Sport10.1 Football10.2 Other sports10.3 Facilities11 References12 External linksGeography[edit]Location map of AbidjanAbidjan lies on the south-east coast of the country in the Gulf of Guinea. The city lies on the bri Lagoon. The business district Le Plateau is the centre of the city, along with Cocody, Deux Plateaux (the wealthiest neighborhood and a hub for diplomats), and the slum of Adjam on the north shore of the lagoon. Treichville and Marcory lie to the south, Commune d' Attecoube by its extension to Locodjro and Abobo Doume and Yopougon to the west, and Gbagba and N'Gbotroya (Locodjro) called today Boulay Island in the middle of the lagoon. Further south lies Port Bout, home to the airport and main seaport. Abidjan is located at 525' North, 42' West (5.41667, -4.03333).[4]Climate[edit]The city has a tropical wet and dry climate (Kppen: Aw) with a long rainy season from May through July, a short rainy season (SeptemberNovember) and two dry seasons, though rain is seen even during these dry seasons. Abidjan is generally humid throughout the year, with humidity generally at or higher than 80 percent. During the rainy season it can rain continuously for several consecutive days, or intensely for over an hour. The rainfall is abundant at about 2,000 mm per year.[5] The monthly rainfall varies between about 20 mm and 500 mm in January to June and the temperature is almost constant at around 27 C (81 F).[6]The highest record temperature was 43 C (109 F) on 27 February 1999, while the lowest record temperature was 15 C (59 F) on 11 September 2000.[7][hide]Climate data for Abidjan, Ivory CoastMonth Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug SepOct Nov Dec YearRecord high C (F) 40(104) 43(109) 41(106) 38(100) 39(102) 39(102) 34(93) 32(90) 35(95) 42(108) 39(102) 39(102) 43(109)Average high C (F) 31.1(88) 31.7(89.1) 31.8(89.2) 31.7(89.1) 31.0(87.8) 29.2(84.6) 28.0(82.4) 27.5(81.5) 28.1(82.6) 29.7(85.5) 31.1(88) 31.0(87.8) 30.16(86.3)Daily mean C (F) 26.9(80.4) 27.9(82.2) 28.1(82.6) 28.2(82.8) 27.7(81.9) 26.5(79.7) 25.1(77.2) 24.5(76.1) 25.6(78.1) 26.5(79.7) 27.5(81.5) 27.4(81.3) 26.83(80.29)Average low C (F) 23.9(75) 25.0(77) 25.2(77.4) 25.1(77.2) 24.8(76.6) 24.1(75.4) 23.2(73.8) 22.5(72.5) 22.8(73) 24.0(75.2) 24.7(76.5) 24.3(75.7) 24.13(75.44)Record low C (F) 18(64) 19(66) 18(64) 18(64) 18(64) 17(63) 18(64) 17(63) 15(59) 18(64) 19(66) 19(66) 15(59)Precipitation mm (inches) 16.3(0.642) 48.9(1.925) 106.7(4.201) 141.3(5.563) 293.5(11.555) 651.8(25.661) 205.7(8.098) 36.8(1.449) 80.5(3.169) 137.7(5.421) 143.3(5.642) 75.1(2.957) 1,937.6(76.283)Avg. rainy days (= 0.1 mm) 3 5 9 11 17 2113 12 12 14 13 7 137Average humidity (%) 73 71 70 71 75 82 7979 80 78 73 73 75.3Mean monthly sunshine hours 210.8 209.05 220.1 216 201.5 129130.2 114.7 138 204.6 225 207.7 2,206.65Source #1: Climate Charts (altitude: 8m)[8] Voodoo Skies for record temperatures,[7] World Climate Guide for rainy days[9]Source #2: Hong Kong Observatory for sunshine,[8] Climatemps.com for humidity[9]Abidjan mean sea temperature[9][10]Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep OctNov Dec28 C (82 F) 28 C (82 F) 28 C (82 F) 29 C (84 F) 29 C (84 F)28 C (82 F) 26 C (79 F) 25 C (77 F) 25 C (77 F) 26 C (79 F)28 C (82 F) 28 C (82 F)Territorial division[edit]Abidjan is composed of two parts (northern Abidjan and southern Abidjan) with ten boroughs each being run by a mayor.Northern Abidjan[edit]Some buildings in the PlateauAbobo : the town consists mainly of public housing. It has long played the role of refuge for migrants with low financial means. This area has developed spontaneously around the station.WilliamsvilleAdjam : Although small in size, this commune is very important for the Ivorian economy, given the number of commercial activities taking place there. Unfortunately, Adjame experiences problems of sanitation. The village bri existed before Abidjan developed. Its market is the realm of shops of all kinds and its bus station is the main crossing bus lines that feed the country and neighbouring countries.Yopougon : it is the most populated commune of Abidjan, lying partly in Northern Abidjan and partly across the lagoon in Southern Abidjan. It is home to industrial and residential areas. The research station ORSTOM, Pasteur Institute and a teaching hospital are establishedPlateau : the business centre with tall buildings looks very modern in Abidjan. Although the administrative capital of Ivory Coast has been officially transferred to Yamoussoukro in 1983, the institutions of the republic such as the Presidency and National Assembly are still in Plateau. It is the main administrative commercial and financial center of Ivory Coast.Attcoub : Banco forest, classified as a national park, is located within this commune. A massive shopping complex, probably the largest in Abidjan, has been built there.[11]Cocody : famous for its residential districts (2-Plateaux, Riviera), Cocody University also has the same name (University of Cocody public institution) and some private universities. Home Television (RTI) is located in Cocody. The President of the Republic resides in this commune. Cocody is also the embassy's district.Southern Abidjan[edit]Beach of VridiKoumassi : This commune has an important industrial area.Marcory : This commune is mainly a residential area.Bitry and Zone 4 are residential areas where many foreigners livePort-Bout : This commune includes both a refinery (Ivorian Company Refining CRS) and the Flix Houphout-Boigny International Airport. There is also an established office of the IRD, the centre of Little Bassam.[12] His famous lighthouse sweeps the Gulf of Guinea on several nautical miles.Vridi : the beach area is busy every weekend, although the ocean is very aggressive the "bar" does a little to move away from the shore, a phenomenon widely along the Gulf of Guinea. From 1950, Vridi has become the main employment areas in Abidjan because of the increasing number of factories and warehousesTreichville : This commune is home to the Autonomous Port of Abidjan and many shops. The port area is also an industrial area. There is also the pool of State Treichville (PET), the palace of sports Treichville, the Palace of Culture, street 12, racetrack Abidjan...le Boulay.Suburbs[edit]The main towns which are near Abidjan are Jacqueville, Grand-Lahou and Dabou in the west, Sikensi, Tiassal, Agboville, Adzop and Aleppo in the north, and Grand-Bassam to the east.The towns of Songon, Bingerville and Anyama were incorporated in 2001 into the Department of Abidjan.