Intro
The beautiful city of Yamoussoukro is the designated capital of Côte d'Ivoire. Until the late 1970s, this was a small town of less than 20,000 people. In 1983, Yamoussoukro was designated to become the new national capital and an administrative and transportation centre. It is known for its perfume and fishing industries. The city’s rapid growth owes its development to the efforts of Côte d'Ivoire's long-term President, Félix Houphouët-Boigny, a native of the city. He sponsored the city's growth, which included hotels, government offices and foreign embassies and a large highway connecting Yamoussoukro to the former capital of Abidjan. Most of these still remain to this day. Yamoussoukro's development drew popular criticism for its extravagance during a difficult economic period. The city suffered neglect after Houphouët-Boigny's death in 1993, but in 2001 the government began making preparations to move to the city.
The city also has the world's largest Christian church, Our Lady of Peace Yamoussoukro, which rises to a height of 489 ft (149 m) and was dedicated in 1990 by Pope John Paul II.
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| IVORY
COAST (COTE D’IVOIRE)
Capital: Yamoussoukro
Area: 322,000km²
Population: 15,446,000
Time: GMT
Currency :CFA Franc
Electricity: 220V AC 50Hz
Language: French, plus many African languages
Religion: Muslim, Christian, and others
Telephone: IDD+Country 00 225
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