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Urban commune and town in Gao Region, Mali
Photo: Taguelmoust, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Gao is a city of 90,000 inhabitants in the Gao region of Mali.
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14th-century mosque.
Tombeau des Askia
Constructed in 1495 by Songhai emperor Askia Mohamed Toure, the Askia Tomb (known locally as the Askia Mosque) is a mud-brick pyramid designed to look like the Great Pyramids of Egypt, which Mohamed saw on his pilgrimage to Mecca. Today it is still used as a mosque and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. (It has been reported to have been destroyed or been significantly damaged/defaced by Islamist rebels for being 'idolatrous' during their occupation of Gao in 2012. These are the same people responsible for the destruction of Timbuktu's shrines.)
Musée du Sahel
A giant sand dune across the river from Gao, named for its glowing pink color at sunrise and sunset. Best reached by pirogue. The top has beautiful views of the surrounding landscape, especially after the rainy season.
By boat
A ferry service links Gao to other cities on the Niger, such as Timbuktu.
By road
Gao is connected to Bamako by a paved highway and can be reached in a private car or by bus. Buses also travel to Niamey several times per week, but the road to the border is still unfinished.
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Gao · Regional · GAQ
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