Port-Gentil
Province
Port-Gentil is the second largest city of Gabon. It has about 125,000 inhabitants (as of 2001) and is the capital of the province of Ogooué- Maritime.
Geography
The port city is located on the east side of an elongated island in the delta of Ogooué, the most important river of the country. Port-Gentil is only about 80 km south of the equator on the Gulf of Guinea. The Cap Lopez northwest of Port -Gentil is the island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe with about 250 km of the next.
History
1885 Port -Gentil was founded at the location of the place Mandji - Oroungou as a French trading post; the town was named after Émile Gentil.
Economy
The city is a center of fishing and overseas trade with products from the hinterland - especially cocoa and wood.
In the city, some enterprises have settled producing canned fish and wood products ( plywood).
The oil wealth of Gabon has left its mark on Port -Gentil: the city has become the center of the oil industry of the country with its refinery.
Religion
Port-Gentil is the seat of the Diocese of Port-Gentil.