Gao | |
---|---|
Urban commune and town | |
Location within Mali | |
Coordinates: 16°16′N 0°03′W / 16.267°N 0.050°W | |
Country | Mali |
Region | Gao |
Cercle | Gao Cercle |
Elevation | 226 m (744 ft) |
Population (2009)[1] | |
• Total | 86,633 |
Time zone | UTC+0 (GMT) |
Gao was the capital of the Songhai Empire. Other important cities in the empire were Timbuktu and Djenné, conquered in 1468 and 1475 respectively. Trade flourished in those towns.