Bissau, << bih SOW >>, is the capital, chief port, and largest city of Guinea-Bissau. The city lies on the Atlantic Ocean, at the mouth of the Geba River on the coast of West Africa. A census in 1991 found the population of Bissau to be 197,610. Since then, the population has more than doubled.
The Portuguese established a fort at Bissau in the late 1600’s. From 1941 to 1974, Bissau was the capital of Portuguese Guinea, an overseas province of Portugal. The province became the nation of Guinea-Bissau in 1974. Bissau serves as the country’s center of commerce, industry, and foreign trade. The city’s main industry is the processing of such foods as coconuts and rice, which are grown in Guinea-Bissau.
