Calabar
|
Calabar Kingdom of Calabar |
|
|---|---|
| City | |
 |
|
 Calabar
|
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| Coordinates: 4°57′0″N 8°19′30″E / 4.95000°N 8.32500°E | |
| Country |
 Nigeria
|
| State | Cross River |
| Area | |
| • Total | 406 km2 (157 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 32 m (105 ft) |
| Population (2006) | |
| • Total | 371,022 |
| • Density | 910/km2 (2,400/sq mi) |
| Time zone | WAT (UTC+1) |
| Climate | Am |
Coordinates: 4°57′00″N 8°19′30″E / 4.95000°N 8.32500°E
Calabar (also referred to as "Canaan City") is a city in Cross River State, in south southern Nigeria. The original name for Calabar was Akwa Akpa, from the Efik language. The city is adjacent to the Calabar and Great Kwa rivers and creeks of the Cross River (from its inland delta).
Calabar is the capital of Cross River State, and has often been described as the tourism capital of Nigeria. Administratively, the city is divided into Calabar Municipal and Calabar South LGAs. It has an area of 406 square kilometres (157 sq mi) and had a population of 371,022 at the 2006 census.
The original town was known by the Efik name Akwa Akpa. The spelling Calabar remained till the British came and pronounced Calabar as Calabah. The neighboring town of Ataba took over the name and its Efik/Qua/Efut/Biase/Akampkpa indigenes became known as Calabar (pronounced Calabah). Calabar is a large metropolis today, with several towns like Akim, Ikot Ansa, Ikot Ishie, Kasuk, Duke Town, Henshaw Town, Ikot Omin, Obutong, Bakassi, Biase, and Akamkpa.
Since the 16th century, Calabar had been a recognized international seaport, shipping out goods such as palm oil. During the era of the Atlantic slave trade, it became a major port in the transportation of African slaves and was named Calabar by the Spanish. By the 18th century, most slave ships that transported slaves from Calabar were English, with around 85% of these ships being owned by Bristol and Liverpool merchants. Old Calabar (Duke Town) and Creek Town, 10 miles northeast, were crucial towns in the trade of slaves in that era. The first British warship to sail as far as Duke Town, where she captured seven Spanish and Portuguese slavers, may have been HMS Comus in 1815.
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Wikipedia