Yamoussoukro

Yamoussoukro is a capital city. It is in Ivory Coast. The land has hills and flat plains.

This city is north-west of Abidjan. It is a special district. Many people live there.

The weather has a long wet season. Then it has a dry season.

A dry wind blows in the city.

There is a very large church here. It is the biggest in the world. People also go to mosques.

People work with fish and trees. They also make perfume. It is a busy place to be.

Yamoussoukro is the capital city of Ivory Coast. It sits in a special district. This area has rolling hills and flat plains. The city is north-west of Abidjan. Abidjan is the economic capital of the country.

Yamoussoukro is a big place for people to live. In 2014, over 212,000 people lived there. The city became the capital in 1983. It was the birthplace of Félix Houphouët-Boigny. He was a leader of the country.

The weather has two main parts. There is a long wet season from March to October. The dry season lasts for four months. A dry wind called the harmattan blows during this time.

Many things happen in the city. People work in fishing and forestry. They also make perfume. You can find many churches and mosques here. The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace is a very large church. It is the biggest Christian church in the world. The city also has an airport. It was once big enough for the Concorde plane.

Yamoussoukro is the capital city of Ivory Coast. It is part of an autonomous district. This area features rolling hills and wide plains. The city sits north-west of Abidjan. Abidjan is the economic capital of the country. The district includes the departments of Attiégouakro and Yamoussoukro. It contains 169 different settlements in total.

The city has a tropical wet and dry climate. A long wet season lasts from March through October. The dry season covers the other four months of the year. During the dry season, a wind called the harmattan blows through the area. Even with the long wet season, it does not rain as much as in Abidjan. Many people in the city work in fishing or forestry. The perfume industry is also a main part of the economy.

History shows that people lived near Yamoussoukro a long time ago. Stone tools from hundreds of thousands of years ago were found there. In 1929, Queen Yamoussou ran the city of N'Gokro. N'Gokro was later renamed Yamoussoukro. The word "Kro" means town in the Baoule language. In 1939, Félix Houphouët-Boigny became the leader of the village. At that time, the village had only 500 people.

Yamoussoukro became the legal capital in 1983. This happened because it was the birthplace of President Félix Houphouët-Boigny. Before this, the capital moved several times. The previous capitals were Grand-Bassam, Bingerville, and Abidjan. The city is now the seat of the Yamoussoukro Department. It is also the seat of the neighbouring Bélier Region. The district was officially created in 2011.

There are many interesting buildings to see in the city. The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace is the largest Christian church in the world. It was consecrated by Pope John Paul II in 1990. The city also has an international airport. In 1995, it had about 36 flights and 600 passengers on average. This airport was large enough to host the Concorde plane. People also visit for sports like tennis or football. The city even hosted a world draughts championship in 2019.

Yamoussoukro is the capital city of Ivory Coast. It is also an autonomous district. This district sits north-west of Abidjan. The landscape consists of rolling hills and plains. Yamoussoukro is the fifth most populous city in the country. As of the 2014 census, it had 212,670 residents. The district is home to 169 different settlements. It is divided into two main departments: Attiégouakro and Yamoussoukro.

The climate in Yamoussoukro is classified as tropical wet and dry. This is known as the Aw climate in the Köppen-Geiger system. The year is split into two distinct seasons. A lengthy wet season lasts from March through October. A shorter dry season covers the remaining four months. During this dry period, the harmattan wind affects the area. Even with the long wet season, the rainfall is lower than in Abidjan. This weather pattern shapes the life and rhythm of the region.

Governance in the district has changed over time. Before 2011, the area was part of the Lacs Region. In 2011, a new decree created the autonomous district. This district is unique because it is not subdivided into regions. Instead, it is organized into departments and sub-prefectures. The departments include Attiégouakro and Yamoussoukro. Within these, there are sub-prefectures like Kossou and Lolobo. Since 2012, the city of Yamoussoukro has been the sole commune in the district. In 2011, the role of Mayor was replaced by a district governor. This governor is appointed by the head of state.

History shows that people have lived here since ancient times. Archaeologists have found stone tools from hundreds of thousands of years ago. Many people moved south due to the desertification of the Sahara. In 1929, a woman named Queen Yamoussou ruled the city of N'Gokro. This village was later renamed Yamoussoukro. In the Baoule language, the suffix "Kro" means town. The city saw conflict during the colonial period. In 1909, the Akoué people revolted against the administration. In 1910, the Akoué Chief Kouassi N'Go was assassinated. The French built a pyramid to remember him.

The modern history of the city is tied to Félix Houphouët-Boigny. He became the leader of the village in 1939. At that time, the village had only 500 inhabitants. After independence, Houphouët-Boigny began ambitious building projects. In 1965, he shared agricultural lessons with local leaders. In 1977, he offered his personal plantations to the State. In March 1983, he made Yamoussoukro the political capital. This was his birthplace. This move was the fourth time the capital had changed in a century. Previous capitals included Grand-Bassam, Bingerville, and Abidjan. Abidjan remains the economic capital today.

The city is known for its impressive architecture and landmarks. It is home to the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace. This is the largest Christian church in the world. Pope John Paul II consecrated the building in 1990. The city also features the Félix Houphouët-Boigny National Polytechnic Institute. Other notable sites include the Kossou Dam and the Palace of Hosts.

Transport is also important for the region. The Yamoussoukro International Airport serves the city. In 1995, it averaged 36 flights and 600 passengers. The airport was large enough to accommodate the Concorde.

Economic and social life continues to grow in Yamoussoukro. The main industries include fishing, forestry, and perfume production. The city is also a center for education and sports. The National Polytechnic Institute was founded in 1996. Sports fans visit for tennis or football matches. The city's teams, SOA and ASC Ouragahio, share the Yamoussoukro Stadium. The city even hosted the 2019 World Draughts Championship. These activities connect the local community to the rest of the world.