Benin is a developing West African country. Its capital city is Porto Novo; however, the city of Cotonou is the main port and largest city, site of the international airport and most government, commercial, and tourist activity. Tourist facilities are available in Cotonou, but are not fully developed elsewhere. The ocean currents along the coast are extremely strong and treacherous (a rough surf and a strong undertow).

Geography
Benin is located in West Africa, covers a land area of 112,622 sq. km. and constitutes a long stretch of land 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. With a 124 kilometers-long coastline, it stretches North to South some 672 kilometers while its breath extends 324 kilometers. It is above two third the Size of Portugal.

Benin can be divided into five natural regions. There is a low, sandy coastal area, 2 to 5 kilometers wide, bounded by lagoons. There is a plateau zone called "La terre de barre" made of iron clay cut with marshy dips; a silica-clayey plateau with wooded savanna extending north of Abomey to the foothills of the Atakora hills. There is also a hilly region in the Northwest, the Atakora, with elevation ranging from 500 to 800 meters and constituting the water reservoir for Benin and Niger Republics. And then there are the Niger plains which are vast fertile silica-clayey areas.

History
Benin, formerly Dahomey, has a history of colonialism, a succession of kingdoms. In 1704, France received permission to erect a port at Ouidah, and in 1752 the Portuguese founded Porto Novo. On June 22, 1894, the territory was named by decree the "Colony of Dahomey and its dependences" and was granted autonomy, which it retained until October 18, 1904 when it became part of French West Africa. On December 4, 1958 the Republic was proclaimed. Dahomey became independent on August 1, 1960 and is a UN member country.

Climate
Benin is characterized by unusually dry conditions. This is due primarily to two very important factors. First, the coast is well protected from the western winds; secondly, the Atakora Barrier in the west and northwest, which decreases the amount of rainfall.

The greater part of the country is under the influence of transitional tropical conditions. Rainfall is not as abundant as in areas with the same latitude—a deviance known as the Benin variant. These conditions are marked by a dry season from November to the beginning of April and a rainy season from the latter part of April to October.

The Southern portion of the Republic of Benin (the Coastal zone), is characterized by a long dry season from November to the end of March, a rainy season from April to July, a small dry period in August, and a second rainy season in September and October.

The Northern portion of the country is subject to a true tropical climate. A long dry season in winter can be observed with a long rainy season in the summer.

The mean temperature is between 77 degrees Fahrenheit and 82 degrees Fahrenheit (25 to 28 degrees C). The best time to visit the southern area is from December to March and July/August, while visiting period for the northern part of the country is between December and April.

Language
Over half the people speak Fon. Yoruba, Mina, Bariba and Dendi are the other important languages. French is the official language. Beside the French language, English is one of two foreign languages taught in secondary schools.

Entry Requirements
A passport and visa are required. Travelers should obtain the latest information from the Embassy of the Republic of Benin, 2737 Cathedral Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, telephone (202) 232-6656. Overseas, inquiries should be made at the nearest Beninese Embassy or Consulate. Travelers who intend to visit Nigeria should obtain Nigerian visas prior to arriving in Benin as the Nigerian Embassy in Cotonou may decline to consider applications for visas by U.S. citizens not resident in Benin.

Crime Information
Street crime, especially within Cotonou, continues to rise. Most robberies and muggings occur along the Marina Boulevard and the beach near the hotels frequented by international visitors. Some of the reported incidents involve the use of force, often by armed persons, with occasional minor injury to the victim. Isolated areas are best avoided.

Business fraud stemming from Nigerian scam operations targets foreigners, including Americans, and poses a danger of financial loss and physical harm. Persons contemplating business deals in Benin with individuals promoting investment in Nigeria, especially the Central Bank of Nigeria or the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, are strongly urged to check with the U.S. Department of Commerce or the U.S. Department of State before providing any information or making financial commitments.

Transportation
Travelers should exercise caution when traveling in Benin as the roads range from fair to very poor. Travel at night, especially outside of population centers, poses a risk principally because of poor road conditions. There are paved roads in Cotonou, along the coast and one paved road north to Niger. Other roads are hard packed sand. All roads, paved or not, are pot-holed and narrow. Motorcycle traffic is very heavy and trucks are usually overloaded.

Ouidah Spelt "WHYDAH" in history books written in English, it is the "Museum City". It is evocative of the European influence with its ancient Portuguese, English, Danish and French trading posts or strongholds. One can see the remains of the ancient port from which slaves were boarded and shipped to the Americas.

Abomey Referred to as the "Royal City," it is the capital of Dan-Home, the ancient Kingdom. It has one of the most impressive museums of Africa, and its artists, be they weavers, jewelers, woodcarvers, iron or brass workers are famous beyond Benin.

Allada This city is the cradle of "voodoos," a culture that has been transplanted to the Americas, namely Brazil, the West Indies, the Caribbean countries.

Porto Novo The "City with three Names" (Porto Novo, Hogbonou, Adjatche), Porto Novo is Benin's administrative capital, right in the middle of the Yoruba land.

Nikki This is the historic capital of the Baatonu people.

Natitiogou This area is known for its castle-type "TATA-Sombas," its traditional huts of the Tanekas, and its richly varied fauna of the National Parks (Pendjari).

Ganvie This is Africa’s unique floating village built on stilts, with a population of several thousand. Motorboats or dugouts are available for the trips across the lake to the Ganvie. There are Akadjas made of stakes and bushes in the shape of open circles or triangles driven into the bed of the lake. Seeking shelter among the foliage, the fish can thus be easily caught or kept for breeding.

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Nigeria and Togo

Area-comparative: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Coastline: 121 km

Climate: tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains

Natural resources: small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber

Geography—note: no natural harbors

Population: 6,305,567 (July 1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Beninese (singular and plural)
adjective: Beninese

Ethnic groups: African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500

Religions: indigenous beliefs 70%, Muslim 15%, Christian 15%

Languages: French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Benin
conventional short form: Benin
local long form: Republique du Benin
local short form: Benin

Government type: republic under multiparty democratic rule; dropped Marxism-Leninism December 1989; democratic reforms adopted February 1990; transition to multiparty system completed 4 April 1991

Capital: Porto-Novo is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat of government

National Holiday: National Day, 1 August (1990)

Constitution:December 1990

Legal system: based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Lucien Edgar TONOUKOUIN
chancery: 2737 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 232-6656
FAX: [1] (202) 265-1996

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert C. FELDER
embassy: Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou
mailing address: B. P. 2012, Cotonou
telephone: [229] 30-06-50, 30-05-13, 30-17-92
FAX: [229] 30-14-39, 30-19-74

Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red with a vertical green band on the hoist side

Economy—overview: The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and dependent on subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade. Growth in real output has averaged a sound 4% in 1990-95 and 5% in 1996-98. Rapid population growth has offset much of this growth in output. Inflation has subsided over the past three years. Commercial and transport activities, which make up a large part of GDP, are vulnerable to developments in Nigeria, particularly fuel shortages. Support by the Paris Club and official bilateral creditors has eased the external debt situation in recent years. The government, still burdened with money-losing state enterprises and a bloated civil service, has been gradually implementing a World Bank supported structural adjustment program since 1991.

Industries: textiles, cigarettes; beverages, food; construction materials, petroleum

Exports—commodities: cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa

Imports—commodities: foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco, petroleum products, intermediate goods, capital goods, light consumer goods

Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Telephone system:
domestic: fair system of open wire, microwave radio relay, and cellular connections
international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); submarine cable

Railways:
total: 578 km (single track)
narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (1995 est.)

Highways:
total: 6,787 km
paved: 1,357 km (including 10 km of expressways)
unpaved: 5,430 km (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors: Cotonou, Porto-Novo

Airports: 5 (1998 est.)

Military branches: Armed Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air Force), National Gendarmerie