The port of Cotonou is in the south of Benin, on a strip of land between the Gulf of Guinea and lake Nokoue in West Africa. The name of the city is derived from the word "Ku-Tonu", which in the language of the natives means "the estuary of the river of the dead". Cotonou developed from a small fishing village by the banks of a lagoon. Today, the city is the seat of government of the African country of Benin. The city's architectural spectrum ranges from traditional mud huts to colonial-style buildings to modern high-rises. The cityscape is shaped by the workshops and huts of the tradesmen, street traders, market women and cookshops. But it is the markets that are the most alluring: the international market of Dantokpa is one of the largest in West Africa. The early morning fish market, Ganhi fruit market and the art market are also well worth seeing.
