Libreville facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Libreville
Capital city
Boulevard du nord, Palais du Sénat, Gabon Mining Logistics building, Church of Notre-Dame de Lourdes, The Mosquée du CHU (Centre Hospitalier Universitaire), Bay of the Cap
Flag Coat of arms
Libreville Location in Gabon Show map of Gabon Libreville Location in Africa Show map of Africa
Country	Gabon
Province	Estuaire Province
Capital district	Libreville
Area
• Land	65.42 km2 (25.26 sq mi)
• Metro	189 km2 (73 sq mi)
Population  (2013 census)
• Capital city	703,904
HDI (2018)	0.788 high

Libreville is the capital and largest city in Gabon. It is located on the Gabon Estuary, which is a wide river mouth. The city covers about 65 square kilometers (25 square miles) in the northwestern Estuaire Province. Libreville is also an important port city near the Gulf of Guinea. In 2013, about 703,904 people lived there.

The Mpongwe people lived in this area long before the French arrived in 1839. Later, it became a Christian mission and a place where freed slaves settled. It then grew into the main port for the French colony called French Equatorial Africa. By 1960, when Gabon became independent, Libreville was a small trading and government center with 32,000 people. Since then, the city has grown very fast. Today, about one-third of Gabon's entire population lives in Libreville.

History of Libreville

Many native groups, like the Mpongwé tribe, lived in the area of Libreville before it was colonized. In 1839, French admiral Édouard Bouët-Willaumez made a trade and protection agreement with the local Mpongwé ruler, King Denis.

American missionaries from New England started a mission in Baraka, which is now part of Libreville, in 1842. In 1846, the French navy captured a Brazilian slave ship called L'Elizia. It was carrying slaves from the Congo. Fifty-two of these freed slaves were settled in 1849 at the site that became Libreville. The name "Libreville" means "Freetown" in French. After the French Revolution of 1848, the freed slaves held an election to choose their leaders. A former slave named Mountier was elected as the first Mayor of Libreville.

Libreville was the main government center for France's Congo-Gabon colony from 1888 to 1904. After that, the capital moved to Brazzaville. In 1910, Gabon became part of French Equatorial Africa (AEF). French companies wanted to build a railway to connect Brazzaville with the Atlantic coast. However, because of rapids on the Congo River, they chose Ponta Negra (now Pointe-Noire) instead of Libreville for the railway's end. This meant Pointe-Noire grew much faster than Libreville.

Libreville got its first bank in 1930. In 1940, during World War II, Libreville was important in the Battle of Gabon. Charles de Gaulle's Free French forces took control of French Equatorial Africa with help from the Royal Navy.

As Gabon prepared for independence, Léon M'ba won Libreville's first free mayoral election in 1956. Mba later became the first president of independent Gabon. The city's population was only 32,000 at independence but grew quickly. Now, it is home to one-third of the country's people.

Geography and Climate of Libreville

Satellite view of Libreville

Beach in Libreville

Libreville is located in northwestern Gabon. To the north is Cameroon, to the east is the Congo, and to the southeast is the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The city also sits on the coast of the South Atlantic Ocean. The Komo River flows through the city and into the ocean. This river could also be a source of hydroelectric power for the city.

The city has several important areas:

• Batterie IV is a main residential area.
• Quartier Louis is famous for its exciting nightlife.
• Mont-Bouët and Nombakélé are busy shopping and business areas.
• Glass was the first European settlement in Gabon.
• Oloumi is a major industrial area where many factories are located.
• Lalala is another large residential area.

The city's port and train station are in Owendo, south of the main city area. This is where the Trans-Gabon Railway line to Franceville begins.

Libreville's Climate

Libreville has a tropical monsoon climate. This means it has a very long wet season and a short dry season. The wet season lasts about nine months, from September to May, with lots of rain. The dry season is from June to August. During this time, a cold ocean current called the Benguela Current stops the rain. Even without rain, Libreville stays very cloudy during the dry season.

Like many cities with this climate, the average temperatures stay quite steady all year. The average high temperature is around 29°C (84°F).

Getting Around Libreville

Port of Libreville.

The Léon-Mba International Airport is Gabon's largest airport. It is located about 11 kilometers (7 miles) north of the city.

You can find national taxis all around the city. Each district has a special color for its taxis, and Libreville's taxis are red. In 2014, a new taxi service was started by the National Society of Transport (SOGATRA). These taxis use a meter system to calculate fares.

The Gabonese Transport Company also runs a bus service that connects all parts of Libreville.

Famous Places in Libreville

• Arboretum de Sibang
• Palais du bord de mer (Palace by the Sea)
• National Museum of Arts, Rites and Traditions of Gabon

Education in Libreville

The Omar Bongo University was founded in 1970.

Libreville also has several well-known international schools:

• American International School of Libreville (follows the American school system)
• Lycée Blaise Pascal de Libreville (follows the French school system)
• International School of Gabon Ruban Vert (follows the IB curriculum)

Places of Worship in Libreville

Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption of Libreville.

Most places of worship in Libreville are Christian churches. These include the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Libreville (part of the Catholic Church), the Église de l'Alliance chrétienne et missionnaire du Gabon, Assemblies of God churches, and the Evangelical Church of Gabon. There are also Muslim mosques in the city.

Languages Spoken in Libreville

Libreville is one of the few African cities where French is becoming a main language for many people, with some local differences.

Libreville's Economy

Libreville is a center for several industries, including shipbuilding, brewing (making drinks like beer), and sawmills (cutting wood). The city's main port and the deeper port at Owendo are used to export raw materials like wood, rubber, and cocoa.

Gabon Airlines has its main office in Libreville. Before they closed down, both Air Gabon and Gabon Express also had their headquarters at Libreville International Airport.

The French Army's 6th Marine Infantry Battalion is based in the northern part of the city.

Famous People from Libreville

• Nadège Noële Ango-Obiang, a writer and economist
• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, a footballer who plays for Olympique de Marseille and the Gabon Team
• Peggy Lucie Auleley, a writer
• Daniel Cousin, a footballer who played for Larissa FC and the Gabon National Team
• Léon M'ba, the first Prime Minister and first President of Gabon
• Anthony Obame, an Olympic silver medalist in Taekwondo at the 2012 Summer Olympics
• Simone Saint-Dénis, a leader in trade unions
• Chris Silva (born 1996), a professional basketball player
• Charles Tchen, the Honorary consul for the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Gabon

Images for kids

• 

  The entrance to Libreville in 1899

See also

In Spanish: Libreville para niños