1. Benin Formerly known as Dahomey, Now known as the Republic of Benin

2. General Information Dahomey gained independence from France in 1960. The name was changed from Dahomey to Benin in 1975. From 1974-1989, Benin was a Socialist state. 1991 was the first year that free elections were established. Benin is known as the birthplace of voodoo.

3. Location Absolute: 9° to 30° North Latitude 2° to 15° East Longitude Relative: Western Africa, bordering on the North Atlantic Ocean. Between Nigeria and Togo.

5. Place: Area Comparative: Slightly smaller than the state of Pennsylvania. Climate: Tropical. Hot and humid in the South. Semiarid in the North. Terrain: Mostly flat or undulating plain. Some hills and low mountains.

6. Natural Hazards: Hot, dry, dusty Harmattan Winds may affect the North from December to March. If you are from Benin, you are Beninese.

7. Ethnicities:

8. Languages: French is the official language. Fon and Yoruba are the most common in the south. Tribal languages are also present.

9. Religions

10. The official capital is called Porto Novo. Benin is an underdeveloped economy. Dependent on subsistence agriculture, cotton production, as well as regional trade.

11. Human and environmental Interaction Inadequate supplies of potable water. Poaching is threatening wildlife populations. Deforestation and desertification are issues.

12. Movement Railways Highways Waterways- Streams are only navigable in small sections. They only hold local importance. Ports and Harbors- Cotonou and Porto-Novo. There are only 5 airports, and only 1 is paved. 4 Airports have unpaved runways.

13. Transshipment point for narcotics associated with Nigerian trafficking organizations and most commonly destined for Western Europe and the U.S.

14. Region Benin is located in the Tropic of Cancer.