Goundam Cercle
Encyclopedia
Goundam Cercle is a second level administrative subdivision of the Tombouctou Region in north-eastern Mali. Its administrative center is the town of Goundam
. In the 2009 census, the cercle
had a population of 150,150.
Although Goundam Cercle extends far into the north of Mali, the entire northern two thirds in covered by the inhospitable Sahara desert. In the south, the seasonal lakes and rivers along the northern edge of the Inner Niger Delta provide a meager living for the population, mostly occupied in pastoralism, farming, and fishing. The population is Tuareg and Maure
nomads in the vast north, with settlements of Fula people
, Songhai people, and Bozo people
in the far south of the Cercle. Seasonal lakes in this area include Lake Faguibine
, Lac Télé, Lac Fatil and Lac Oro. There is an airport at Goundam
, and a highway running towards Mopti
far to the southwest and east to the regional capital of Timbuktu
.
Goundam Cercle contains sixteen communes
:
Goundam
Goundam is a commune and town in north central Mali, in the Tombouctou Region. It is the capital of Goundam Cercle, one of five subdivisions of the Region. In the 2009 census the commune had a population of 16,253...
. In the 2009 census, the cercle
Cercles of Mali
A cercle is the second level administrative unit in Mali. Mali is divided into eight regions and one capital district . These subdivisions bear the name of their principal city. The regions are divided into 49 cercles....
had a population of 150,150.
Although Goundam Cercle extends far into the north of Mali, the entire northern two thirds in covered by the inhospitable Sahara desert. In the south, the seasonal lakes and rivers along the northern edge of the Inner Niger Delta provide a meager living for the population, mostly occupied in pastoralism, farming, and fishing. The population is Tuareg and Maure
Maure
A Maure, since the 11th century, is the symbol of an African head. The term has Phoenician and Greek origins; see Moors.- U Moru :The main symbol in the coat of arms in Corsica is U Moru, Corsican for "The Moor", originally a female Moor blindfolded and wearing a necklace made of beads...
nomads in the vast north, with settlements of Fula people
Fula people
Fula people or Fulani or Fulbe are an ethnic group spread over many countries, predominantly in West Africa, but found also in Central Africa and Sudanese North Africa...
, Songhai people, and Bozo people
Bozo people
The Bozo are a West African ethnic group located predominantly along the Niger River in Mali. The name Bozo is thought to derive from Bambara bo-so, 'Bamboo house'; the people accept it as referring to the whole of the ethnic group but use more specific clan names such as Sorogoye, Hain, and Tieye...
in the far south of the Cercle. Seasonal lakes in this area include Lake Faguibine
Lake Faguibine
Lake Faguibine is a lake in Mali on the southern edge of the Sahara Desert situated 80 km west of Timbuktu and 75 km north of the Niger River to which it is connected by a system of smaller lakes and channels. In years when the height of the annual flood of the river is sufficient, water...
, Lac Télé, Lac Fatil and Lac Oro. There is an airport at Goundam
Goundam Airport
Goundam Airport is an airport serving Goundam in Mali....
, and a highway running towards Mopti
Mopti
Mopti is a city at the confluence of the Niger and the Bani in Mali, between Timbuktu and Ségou. The city lies on three islands linked by dykes: the New Town, the Old Town and Medina Coura. As a result it is sometimes known as the "Venice of Mali".-History:The city of Mopti derives its name from...
far to the southwest and east to the regional capital of Timbuktu
Timbuktu
Timbuktu , formerly also spelled Timbuctoo, is a town in the West African nation of Mali situated north of the River Niger on the southern edge of the Sahara Desert. The town is the capital of the Timbuktu Region, one of the eight administrative regions of Mali...
.
Goundam Cercle contains sixteen communes
Communes of Mali
A Commune is the third level administrative unit in Mali. Mali is divided into eight regions and one capital district . These subdivisions bear the name of their principal city. The regions are divided into 49 Cercles...
:
- AdarmalaneAdarmalaneAdarmalane also D'adarmalane is a rural commune of the Cercle of Goudam in the Tombouctou Region of Mali. It lies to the south of Lake Faguibine....
- AlzounoubAlzounoubAlzounoub is a commune of the Cercle of Goundam in the Tombouctou Region of Mali. The seat lies at Sonima. As of 1998 the commune had a population of 2,923.It covers an area of 7853 km².-References:...
- BintagoungouBintagoungouBintagoungou is a rural commune and village of the Cercle of Goudam in the Tombouctou Region of Mali. The village lies at the south east corner of Lake Faguibine near the channel that connects Lake Faguibine to Lake Takara...
- DouekireDouekireDouékiré is a village and commune of the Cercle of Goudam in the Tombouctou Region of Mali.-External links:. This document gives the area of the commune as 4,500 km2....
- DoukouriaDoukouriaDoukouria is a village and rural commune of the Cercle of Goudam in the Tombouctou Region of Mali....
- EssakaneEssakaneEssakane is a rural commune and village of the Cercle of Goundam in the Tombouctou Region of Mali. The commune includes around 16 small settlements. The small village of Essakane is around 70 kilometers west of the town of Timbuktu...
- GargandoGargandoGargando is a small town located in the Tombouctou Region of Mali. The people are mainly from subdivisions of the Kel Ansar tribe...
- GoundamGoundamGoundam is a commune and town in north central Mali, in the Tombouctou Region. It is the capital of Goundam Cercle, one of five subdivisions of the Region. In the 2009 census the commune had a population of 16,253...
- Issa BeryIssa BeryIssa Bery is a commune of the Cercle of Goundam in the Tombouctou Region of Mali. The administrative center is the village of Toucabangou which is on the south shore of Lake Faguibine. The commune includes areas of land both to the south and to the north of the lake....
- KaneyeKaneyeKaneye is a village and commune of the Cercle of Goudam in the Tombouctou Region of Mali. As of 1998 the commune had a population of 2,418.-References:...
- M'BounaM'BounaM'Bouna is a village and commune of the Cercle of Goudam in the Tombouctou Region of Mali. As of 1998 the commune had a population of 6,070.-References:...
- RazelmaRaz El MaRaz El Ma is a village and commune of the Cercle of Goundam in the Tombouctou Region of Mali. In the 2009 census the commune had a population of 4,121....
- TeleTele, MaliTélé is a rural commune of the Cercle of Goundam in the Tombouctou Region of Mali. The administrative center is the village of Hangabéra. The village lies to the east of Lake Télé and 20 km north of the small town of Goundam. Lake Télé is connected to the Niger River by a system of channels...
- TilemsiTilemsiTilemsi may refer to:*Tilemsi, Gao, Mali*Tilemsi, Tombouctou, Mali...
- Tin AichaTin AichaTin Aicha is a village and commune of the Cercle of Goudam in the Tombouctou Region of Mali. As of 1998 the commune had a population of 3,940.-References:...
- TonkaTonka, MaliTonka is a town and commune of the Cercle of Goudam in the Tombouctou Region of Mali. The commune includes around 22 settlements. The commune lies to the north of the Niger River and includes Lake Oro, a seasonal lake that fills with water during the annual flood of the Niger River.-External...
External links
- MATCL - MINISTERE DE L'ADMINISTRATION TERRITORIALE ET DES COLLECTIVITES LOCALES: government of the Republic Mali.
- Maplibrary: vector maps of national subdivisions of Mali.