Atakpamé
| Atakpamé | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Atakpamé | |
| Coordinates: 7°31′37″N 1°7′36″E / 7.52694°N 1.12667°ECoordinates: 7°31′37″N 1°7′36″E / 7.52694°N 1.12667°E | |
| Country |
 Togo |
| Region | Plateaux Region |
| Elevation | 250 m (820 ft) |
| Population (2006) | |
| • Total | 84,979 |
Atakpamé is the fifth largest city in Togo by population (84,979 inhabitants in 2006), is a city in the Plateaux Region of Togo.[1] It is an industrial centre and lies on the main north-south highway, 161 km north of the capital Lomé. It is also a regional commercial centre for produce and cloth.
History
In 1914, during World War I, the British and French invaded the German colony of Togoland during the Togoland Campaign. It was aimed at capturing or destroying a powerful German radio station at Kamina near Atakpame. The Allies feared that German maritime raiders would be able to maintain contact with Berlin via the station and thus rapidly pass on intelligence. A short campaign began on 6 August 1914, and the Germans were forced to destroy the station on 24 August before surrendering to the Allies on 26 August.
It was during this campaign that Alhaji Grunshi fired the first shot by anyone in British service during the war.
Transport
The town is served by a station of the main northern line of Togo Railways.
Governance
The town was the administrative centre of German Togoland.
International relations
Twin towns — Sister cities
Atakpamé is twinned with:
-
Niort, France
References
- ↑ "Atakpamé". Britannica Encyclopaedia. Retrieved 24 January 2013.