he city of Bissau is the capital and chief port of the West African country of Guinea-Bissau. It lies on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Geba River.
The economy of Bissau relies on agriculture. The main industry is the processing of products such as coconuts, cashews, and rice. Most of Guinea-Bissau's imports and exports pass through Bissau. The city also has an international airport and is the site of a small university and a research institute.
The Portuguese established Bissau in 1687 as a fort and slave-trading center. Over the next two centuries Portugal, Britain, France, and other European nations struggled for control of the city and its port. In the late 19th century the Portuguese gained sole possession of all of present-day Guinea-Bissau. In 1941 Bissau replaced Bolama as the capital of the colony, which was known as Portuguese Guinea. When Portuguese Guinea became the independent nation of Guinea-Bissau in 1974, Bissau remained the capital. Population (1999 estimate), 274,000.
