Douala

Chief port and commercial and industrial centre of Cameroon, on the Wouri River estuary by the Gulf of Guinea; population (2001 est) 1,494,700. Industries include aluminium, chemicals, textiles, and the processing of cacao beans and timber. Known as Kamerunstadt until 1907, it was capital of German Cameroon, which became a German protectorate in 1884, 1885–1901.

The largest city in the country, Douala handles 95% of Cameroon's port traffic, with exports including palm and oil products, timber, and general cargo. Oil and gas are extracted offshore in the Douala/Karibi Campo basin.

Douala is linked by rail with the capital Yaoundé and by the Transcameroon railway to Ngaoundere. Cameroon's main international airport is at Douala.