Benin
The Republic of Benin
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About Benin
Benin is located in West Africa and covers a land area of 112,622 sq. km. and constitutes a long stretch of hand perpendicular to the Coast of the Gulf of Guinea. It is bordered on the North by Burkina Faso and the Republic of Niger, on the East by the Federal Republic of Nigeria and on the West by the Republic of Togo.
Benin can be divided into five natural regions: A coastal area, low, sandy and about 2 to 5 kilometers wide, bounded by lagoons. The forest thins out considerably in the center and gives way to grassland. immense palmgroves of lower Benin and the coconut plantations on the 124 kilometers long coastline and along the lagoons. Stretched between the Niger River in the north and the Bight of Benin in the south, Benin's elevation is about the same for the entire country. Most of the population lives in the southern coastal plains, where Benin's largest cities are. The north of the country consists mostly of savanna and semi-arid highlands. The coast has no natural harbors, river mouths or islands, due to access difficulty because of sandbanks. Behind the coastline is a network of lagoons, from that of Grand Popo on the Togo border.
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Cities in Benin
General information
- Capital: Porto-Novo
- Language: French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)
- Climate: The climate in Benin is hot and humid, with relatively little rain, although there are two rainy seasons (April-July and September-November)
- Timezone: UTC + 1
- Currency: 1 CFA (Communaute Financiere Africaine) franc = 100 centimes
- Electricity plugs: e (show)
- No. of inhabitants: 7,4 million
- Interl. accesscode +229
- Toplevel domain .bj
- Travel alert: EnjoyYourWorld strongly advises you to take necessary precautions for a safe travel. For more info please follow this link
Good to know
Religion: indigenous beliefs 70% (voodoo), Christian 15%, Muslim 15%, It is believed that Vodun (or "Voodoo", as it is commonly known) originated in Benin and was introduced to Brazil, the Caribbean Islands, and parts of North America by slaves taken from this particular area of the Slave Coast. The indigenous religion of Benin is practiced by about 70% of the population.
National holidays: January 1th New Year's Day, January 10th National Vodun Holiday, Ascension Day, May 1th May Day, August 1th National Day, August 15th Assumption Day, November 1th All Saints' Day, December 25th Christmas Day.
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