Kayes Kayi, Xaayi
—  Commune and city  —
Men cross a busy street in Kayes, 2006.
Kayes Location within Mali
Coordinates: 14°27′N 11°26′W / 14.45°N 11.433°W / 14.45; -11.433
Country	Mali
Region	Kayes
Cercle	Kayes Cercle
Town founded	1880s
Elevation	20 m (68 ft)
Population (2006)[1]
- Total	100,583
	estimate
Time zone	GMT (UTC+0)

• See also: Kayes, Congo

Kayes (Bambara Kayi, Soninké Xaayi) is a city in western Mali on the River Senegal, with a population of roughly 100,000 people. Kayes is the capital of the administrative region of the same name. The name "Kayes" comes from the Soninké word "karré," which describes a low humid place that floods in rainy season. The city is located 317 miles (510 km) north-west of the capital Bamako.

[edit] Climate

Kayes is nicknamed the "pressure cooker of Africa" due to its extreme heat; the town is surrounded by iron-rich mountains which contribute to the temperature. Kayes is often described as the hottest continuously-inhabited town in Africa. The average daily high temperature in the city is 35°C (95°F), with temperatures usually peaking in April and May at an average 46°C (115°F).

[edit] History

Prior to French colonial expansion, Kayes was a small village. Its location on the path of the future Dakar-Niger Railway, and the French need for trade centers, led to the creation of the Kayes market town in 1881. It remains a transport hub, primarily for Senegalese trade, to this day. In 1892, Kayes became the capital of the French Sudan; Bamako replaced it as the capital, first of the state of Haut Sénégal-Niger on October 17, 1899, then as the capital of all of French Sudan in 1908.

[edit] Economy and transport

The town has an international airport (Kayes Airport), and lies on the Dakar-Niger Railway, in an area rich in gold and iron.

[edit] Area

Baobab tree.

Different sites found in and around Kayes include:

• Fort du Médine
• the falls of Félou 4 kilometres (2 mi)
• the falls of Goulina, 100 kilometres (62 mi) to the southeast on the Senegal river
• the tata (fortification) of Koniakari, constructed by El Hadj Umar Tall, 70 kilometres (43 mi) to the northeast
• Lake Magui and Lake Doro
• the Manantali Dam

[edit] Infrastructure

Kayes contains a postal office. Telephone and electricity services are available for residents of the town.^[2]

[edit] References

• Portions of this article are a translation of French language Wikipedia's Kayes.
• FallingRain Map - elevation = 20m (Red dots are railways).
• Colonial history of Kayes, from Web Site of Dr. Jim Jones, African History Since 1875the West Chester University Department of History.
• View of Senegal River Bridge at Kayes: Kidira Border Crossing into Mali, December 16 2004 by NKOverland.

Coordinates: 14°27′N 11°26′W / 14.45°N 11.433°W / 14.45; -11.433

v • d • e Communes and towns of the Kayes Region, Mali Capital: Kayes Bafoulabé Cercle Bafoulabé (Bafoulabé) · Bamafele (Bamafele) · Diakon (Diakon) · Diallan (Diallan) · Diokeli (Diokeli) · Gounfan (Gounfan) · Kontela (Goundara) · Koundian (Koundian) · Mahina (Mahina) · Niambia (Niambia) · Oualia (Oualia) · Sidibela (Tigana) · Tomora (Oussoubidiagna) Kita Cercle Kita (Kita) · Benkadi Founia (Founia Moribougou) · Bougaribaya (Bougaribaya) · Djidian (Djidian) · Gadougou I (Sagabari) · Gadougou II (Galle) · Kassaro (Kassaro) · Kita Nord (Sibikily) · Boudofo (Boudofo) · Kira Ouest (Kofeba) · Badia (Dafela) · Kobri (Kobri) · Koulou (Balia) · Madina (Madina) · Kotouba (Kotouba) · Makano (Makano) · Namala Guimba (Namala) · Niantanso (Niantanso) · Saboula (Balandougou) · Souransan-Tomoto (Souransan-Tomoto) · Sebekoro (Sebekoro) · Guemoukouraba (Guemoukouraba) · Djoungoun (Djoungoun) · Didenko (Didenko) · Sefeto Nord (Niagane) · Sefeto Ouest (Sefeto) · Kourounikoto (Kourounikoto) · Kokofata (Kokofata) · Senko (Senko) · Sirakoro (Sirakoro) · Toukoto (Toukoto) · Tambaga (Tambaga) · Bendougouba (Bendougouba) Kenieba Cercle Kéniéba (Kéniéba) · Dabia (Dabia) · Baye (Baye) · Dialafara (Dialafara) · Dombia (Dombia) · Falea (Falea) · Faraba (Faraba) · Kassama (Kassama) · Guenegore (Guenegore) · Kroukoto (Kroukoto) · Sagalo (Sagalo) · Sitakilly (Sitakilly) Kayes Cercle Kayes (Kayes) · Bangassi (Bangassi) · Kabate (Kabate) · Diamou (Diamou) · Djelebou (Aourou) · Faleme (Diboli) · Gory Gopela (Gory Gopela) · Guidimakan Keri Kafo (Gakoura) · Hawa de Mbaya (Médine) · Karakoro (Teichibe) · Kemene Tambo (Ambidedi) · Kouloun (Kouloun) · Koussané (Koussané) · Liberte de Mbaya (Diabe Banlieue) · Marena Diombougou (Marena Diombougou) · Logo (Kakoulou) · Tafacirga (Tafacirga) · Marintoumania (Marintoumania) · Sadiola (Sadiola) · Sahel (Bafarara) · Samé Diomgoma (Samé) · Segala (Segala) · Sero Diamanou (Sero) · Sony (Lany Tounka) · Koniakary (Koniakary) · Somankidi (Somankidi) · Fegui (Fegui) · Goumera (Goumera) Nioro du Sahel Cercle Nioro du Sahel (Nioro du Sahel) · Baniere Kore (Baniere Kore) · Gavinane (Gavinane) · Diaye-Koura (Diaye-Koura) · Youri (Youri) · Gogui (Gogui) · Korerakore (Korerakore) · Sandare (Sandare) · Simbi (Simbi) · Troumgoumbe (Troumgoumbe) · Diabigue (Diabigue) · Diarra (Diarra) Guetema (Guetema) · Kadiaba Kadiel (Kadiaba Kadiel) · Tougoune Rangabe (Tougoune Rangabe) · Yeyere (Yeyere) Yélimané Cercle Guidimé (Yélimané) · Diafounou Gory (Tambacara) · Diafounou Dionaga (Dionaga) · Fanga (Fanga) · Gory (Gory) · Kremis (Kremis) · Kirane Kaniaga (Kirane) · Konsiga (Kersiniane) · Marenkaffo (Dogofiry) · Soumpou (Takaba) · Tringa (Marena) · Toya (Yaguine)