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Atlantique Department

Atlantique
Department
Ouidah Porte du Non retour.jpg
Map highlighting the Atlantique Department
Map highlighting the Atlantique Department
Coordinates: 6°40′N 2°15′E / 6.667°N 2.250°E / 6.667; 2.250Coordinates: 6°40′N 2°15′E / 6.667°N 2.250°E / 6.667; 2.250
Country  Benin
Capital Ouidah
Area
 • Total 3,233 km2 (1,248 sq mi)
Population (2013 census)
 • Total 1,396,548
 • Density 430/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
Time zone WAT (UTC+1)

Atlantique is one of the twelve departments in Benin. The department is located in south central Benin along the Atlantic coast, between the Mono and Couffo in the west, Zou in the north, and Oueme in the east. Ethnically, the Fon at 61% constitute the majority of the population. They are followed by the Yoruba at 10%, Aja at 7%. Other groups make up the remaining 22%. Important towns in the department include Allada, Ouidah, Abomey-Calavi and Godomey. The département of Atlantique was bifurcated during 1999 when some of its territory were moved to the newly formed Littoral Department.

Per 2013 census, the total population of the department was 1,398,229 with 686,747 males and 711,482 females. The proportion of women was 50.90 per cent. The total rural population was 55.50 percent, while the urban population was 44.50 per cent. The total labour force in the department was 433,515 out of which 43.40 per cent were women. The proportion of households with no level of education was 39.20 and the proportion of households with children attending school was 77.30.

Benin is located in West Africa, bordered by Togo, Niger, Burkina Faso and Nigeria. The coastal areas have interconnected lakes and lagoons and elongated coastlines with wide marsh. Freshwater and seawater fishing is the major profession in the region. Petroleum was discovered in the 60s in offshore areas, while titanium, low quality iron ore, ilmenite and chromite are the major minerals. The southern regions receive two spells from March to July and September to November while the northern regions of the country receive one season of rainfall from May to September. The country receives an average annual rainfall of around 1,200 mm (47 in), but the region in the department receives relatively lesser rainfall. The department has mostly low-lying sandy coastal plains towards Atlantic Ocean, marshes, lagoons and lakes. The highest elevation in the department around the coastal plains is 20 m (66 ft) compared to the average 200 m (660 ft) above average mean sea level of the country.


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