The Island of Saint-Louis, oceanic port of West Africa, is a miniscule strip of land, today wedged b
The Island of Saint-Louis, oceanic port of West Africa, is a miniscule strip of land, today wedged between two arms of the mouth of the Senegal River. As the first French chartered company on the Atlantic coast of African in 1659, the Island of Saint-Louis became the hub for European traders travelling up the river year round in search of slaves but also gum arabic, gold, leather and other products. It was also the capital city of the colony of French West Africa (FWA) up until 1902, and capital of Senegal and Mauritania up until 1957. Since Dakar became the capital and main city of Senegal, though, this little island has been in decline. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. -- source link
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