Mopti
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Location of Mopti in Mali |
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Mopti harbour. |
Mopti is a city at the
confluence of the
Niger and the
Bani in
Mali, between
Timbuktu and
Ségou (14°30'00" North, 4°12'00" West). The city lies on three
islands linked by
dykes: the
New Town, the
Old Town and
Bani. As a result it is sometimes known as the "
Venice of Mali".
The islands had long been inhabited, but Mopti was only founded in the
nineteenth century as part of the
Massina Empire, later becoming the base of El Hadj
Umar Tall. With
French domination, Mopti became known for its
egret feather industry. It has continued to grow around its
harbour and is Mali's most important
port. It is also known for its
fish and
salt markets.
Mopti is popular with tourists, having an active
river port, a
mosque, and across the Niger, small fishing villages. Attractions in Mopti include
Mopti Grand Mosque. Ferries connect Mopti with Timbuktu,
Gao,
Koulikoro and
Djenné. The town is linked to
Sévaré, the actual location of Mopti's
airport.
Mopti is the fourth-largest city in Mali, with 118,000 residents primarily of the
Bambara,
Bozo,
Dogon,
Songhai and
Peul (Fula) ethnic groups.
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