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Niger River, Mopti harbor, Mali, 1998 Photo ©1998 by L. Lee McIntyre |
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Niger River, Mopti harbor, Mali, 1998 Photo ©1998 by L. Lee McIntyre |
The Niger River has long been a major avenue for trade across west Africa. Large canoes, some powered with outboard engines, loaded with freight and passengers travel from port to port along the great river. This is the port of the city of Mopti, which was one of the great trading centers of all of Africa in the 14th to 19th centuries and continues to be important for local commerce.