NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE SURVEY GAZETTEER FOR WEST AFRICA AND FRENCH WEST AFRICA VOL. 2

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NIS
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP01-00707R000100060006-6
• Release Decision: RIF
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 858
• Document Creation Date: October 25, 2016
• Sequence Number: 6
• Content Type: REPORTS

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NIS GAZETTEER
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CEP:TRATL INTEL*,I(}ENCE AC}EN('.Y
Washington, D. C.
August 1954
.
This Gazetteer is issued aa a standard component oi the National Intelligence
Burvey !or West Africa and lists official standard names approved by the United
9tates Board on Geographic Namea These names supersede all previous decisions
on geographic names in this area. Thfa GazettPer also lists the variants of official
standard names for reference gurposes. These variante are not approved as stand-
ard names.
. The NI8 C{azetteer for West Afrlca comprises the following 2 volumes:
Volume I Eritish Cameruons, (3a;nbia, Ciold Coast, Nfgeria, Portuguese
Guinea, Sierra Leone, Spanish Sahara, Togo, and Togoland.
Volume II French West Atrica.
Thiis tiaxetteer will be adequately maintained by published revision.
Disfi,ribution of this publlcation is made by the Central Intellig2nce Agency
and is for official use only.

r .
y,
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~
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HIS 6AZETTEER
West Af rica
Volume II French West Xfrica
Official Standard Nomes Approved by the
UIeTITED 'STATES
BOARD ON GEOGRAPHIC NAMES

.
4
Prepared in the Division of Geography, Department of the tnterior
Published by the Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, D. C. August 1954
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FOREWORD
" This two-volume gazetteer contains about 66,300 entries for places
ANCH
anchorage
MSSN
mission
and features in westem Africa. These entries include approved standard
AR.EA
tribal area, geographical
PrS'T
mountain
- names and unapproved variant names, the latter cross-referenced to the
area
hiTS
mountains
standatd nar,~es. Users of tbe gazettees should always se/er to main
SANK
bank(s), mudbank
OAS
oasis
entries /or approved names.
BAY
bay, inlet
PEN
peninsula
-
BCH
beach(es)
PLN
plain
BLDG
building
POPL
populated place
This volume contains about 34,400 entries for French West Africa.
CAh1P
camping site
POST
military post
Volume I contains about 31,900 entries fo: British Cameroons, Gambia,
CHAN
channel
PT
point
Gold Coast, Idigeria, Portuguese Guinea, Sierra Leone, Spanish Sahara,
CLIF
cliff(s), bluff, escaroment
RCKS
rocks
Togo, and Togoland.
CNAL
canal
RDGE
ridge
CONF
confluence
REEF
reef(s)
-
CST
coast
REGN
region
Interpretation of entries
DEF.P
deep, submarine canyon
ROAD
roadstead
DEPR
depression
RSTA
railroad station
It has been necessary to express in code numbers and letters some
DRNG
dcainage acea
SALT
salt flat
- of the intotmation in the gazetteer in order to accommodate it to the
DSRT
desert
SAND
sand area
machine method of tabulation.
DUNE
dune(s), dune area
SECP
section of populated place
ENTR
entrance
SECS
section of stream
Name.--Approved standard names and unapproved variant names
ESTY
estuary
SHOL
shoal(s)
a2peat in the first column. The vaciant names are always cross-refer-
HALL
waterfall, rapids
SITE
site, ruins
enced to approved names by use of the word "see." Where part of a
FED
federation of tenitories
SLPE
slope
standard name is underlined, the use of the nonunderlined part is
FISEi
fishing ground
SPRG
spring(s)
optionaL Wtere two names are approved fot a feature, each is identified
FRST
forest, forest reserve
STR
strait, passage
in parentheses and either or both muy be useci. Names that consist of
VK;,E
gorge, defile
STRht
stream, distributary
specific and other elements are alphabetized by specific part; thus
HILL
hill(s), hill area
TERR
territory
Dune d'Abanhela is listed as Abanhala, Dune d'. hlarks that occur on
ISL
island
UPLD
upland, plateau
recommended names include the acute accent (as in Abarhe), the grave
ISLS
islands
VAL
valley, area between dunes
accent (Riviere), the dieresis (Daia), the cirrumflex (Cote), and the
LAvN
lagoon(s)
WADI
wadi(es), waid mounth, area
aadilla (Ftanqaise).
LAKE
lake, intermittent lake
o` wadies
.
LCTY
locality
WELL
well(s)
%
Designatioa-Designations, in the second colunin, are sometimes
LDNG
landing
WSTE
wasteland
abbreviated and represent groups of features, as follows:
iARSH
marsh, swamp
WTR}i
waber hole(s)
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Latitude and longitude.--Coordinates, in tne thicd and fourth
columns, are for f:nding purposes only. Where the scale of soucr:es
permitted, t4ey were read to the nearest minute. It is to be noted that
for much of western Africa accurate maps are not available and therefore
the coordinates given may be subject to revision when more accurate
sucveys are published.
Admin:strative division.--The number in the fifth coluinn, 540, is
the area number assigned to French West Africa.
Locational reference.--The number in tne las: column indicates
a map or chart where the feature may be located by its standard name
or a recogcuzable variant of its standard name,as follows:
Ol Croquis de 1'A/rigue Fsanr,aise au 1,000,000, Institut
Geobraphique National or Service Geographique de 1'Armee,
various dates.
02 Carte des Colonies de 1'A.O.F. and Croquis de Reconnaissance
des Regions Sahariennes, Service Geographique de 1'A.O.F.,
Dakar, various dates; scale 1:500,000.
03 FFrench West Africa], most sheets Service Geographique de
1'A.O.F., some sheets Institut Geographique National, various
dates; scale 1:200,000.
04 A/rigue 1:5,000,000, Institut Geographique Natzonal and Service
3eographique de 1'Armee, various dates.
OS Principales Routes et Pistes de l'A/rique Franr~aise Croquis
a 1'Ectielle de 1:2,500,000, 11inistere des Travaux Publics et
des Transports, Institut Geograpiique National, 1949.
06 French hy,lrographic charts.
"I
The code UO is used for cross-references and for the names not to be
found on one of these six references.
Glossary of generic terms
The following terms occur in the standard names listed in the
g,azetteer. Each of the meanings given applies in the case of one or
moze of the names.
acheif, achouif
a d rar
dune
mountain(s), hill, plateau
a f tout
agelt, aguelt
ahzar
ain
aioun(et)
alab, aleb, alib(at)
alous
amane
anou
anse
aouinat, aouinet
argoub
ariert
atig(at)
baie
banc(s)
beiket
biar
bir
bolon
bouer, Douir
bowal
butte
can al
c ap
chai ne
c}:aussee
cheggat, chegget
chelkhet
chenal
chutes
col
colline(s)
~
cote
crique
cuvette
dahar
dakhlet, darhlet
daia, daiet, dait, daya, dayet
defile
depression
long depression
well, pon d
wadi
spring, well
spring(s), well
dune
hills
well
well
bay, cove, inlet
spring, well, pond
hill
long depression
dune
bay,inlet
bank(s), shoal(s), ridge
dune
well
well, water hole
stream
well
mountain, hill
hill
stream
cape, point
chain of mountains, hills
reef
long depression
drainage depression
channel
rapids
pass
hill(s)
coast
stream
valley, depression
escarpment, cliff, hill(s), hill area
gorge
depression, well, water hole
defile
depression
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I
derem
dunes
guel b
iiill
desert
desert
guelta(s)
well(s)
d}iar, dhra
escarpment, cliff, hill(s), hill area
hadeb
piateau
djebel
iiill, mountain
hadebt
hill
dra
dunes, hilts
halte
railroad station
eche
depression
hama6a
plateau
ehi
mountain, hill
hassei, hasseye, .iassi
well
elb
dune
hofert, hoffra(t)
depression
emi
mountain, hill
ile(s)
island(s)
emplacement
site
i lot
i sl and
enneri
wadi
iracher, irazer
wadi
ecg
dune(s)
kedia(t)
rriountain, hill(s)
erigi,'
dune(s)
kesseret
salt flat
eaout;
dunes '
khat
wadi
eteng
lake .
khenig
gorge
falaise(s)
escarpment, cliff(s) �
kori
wadi, drainag- depression
feidj
area between dunes
koudia(t)
hill
fello
mountain
kra(a)
wadi, depression
foret claissee
forest reserve
kraiat
dunes
forets
forests
kreb(b)
cliff, escarpment
fosse
submarine canyon
kreibat
hill(s)
foum
gorge, pass
lac
lake
g.aa^'t
dcainage depression
lagune(s)
lagoon(s)
gal b
hill(s)
langue
sandbar
gata
hill, mountain
maader
wadi
gare
railroad station
mamelles
mountains
gasbet
depression
marais
marsh, marshy lake
glatt
well
mare(s)
pond, lake, well, water hole(s)
glebet, gle.;b(at)
hill(s)
marigot
marsh, wadi, stream, estuary, channel
gleit
well
massif
plateau, hills, mountain(s)
golfe
valley
mbeket
dune
gouirat
hilts
melzem
well, water hole
goula
cliff
mleizem
viater hole(s), drainage depression
aoulbi
stream, wadi
mokta
long depression
gour
hill(s)
mont(s)
mountain(s), hill(s), ridge
grara, gratet
depression, well
montagne(s)
liill(s), mountain(s)
greh(in)
hill
nbak
dune
gue
ford
nbayet
dune
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nbeikat, nbeiket
nbeyt
nebka, nebket
ogla, oglat(s)
ogui let
oudei
oudian(e)
oued
ounissoui
pess.age
pesse
pic
piton(s)
plage
platesu
pointe
presqu'le
puits
rade
ra g
rapide
repido
ras
reci f
reg
region
rio
riviere
dune
dune
dane(s)
well(s)
well
e�adi
area of wadies
wadi
well
pass
channel, pas�,
mountain, hill, peak
hill(s)
beach
plateau, shoal
point
peninsule
well
roadstead
desert
rapids
rapids
point, cape, hill
rock, ceef
c.tesect
rer,inn
stream, estuary
stream, estuary
rock
rock(s)
rack(s), hill(s)
salt flat
channel
marsh, salt flat(s), salt lake
spring
hill
railroad station
tadjnout
tadrar
tagelout
tahlai
taiert, taieurt
tajalet
tamat
tamourt
taref
tasf
tarso
tassili
tayaret, tayart, tayert
tejalet
tenere
teaitoire
tichilit
timitt
tombeau
touarfat
touijilit
touiyirat
toujounine
uad, udeiat
vallee
zarah
zemlet, zimle(t)
ziret
well
hill
mountain
well
long depressiou
hill, cliff
well
wadi, well, water hole, dcainage
depression
hill
hill, dissected slope
plateau
plateau
'nng depression
hill .
desed
tecritory
well, water hole
wadi
tom b
hill
dune, mountain
depression
well
wadi
valley, wadi
dune
hill, dune, ridge
dune
roc
roche(s)
roch er(s)
sslines
sanEuinet
sebkhat.,;;)� sebkhet
source
steilt, s!al, steilet, steilt
station
Reporting of eROrs
It is requested that all who use this gazetteer aid in its correction
fot futare printings by reporting errors to the Boatd on Geographic Names,
Intecior Departrnent d3uilding, Washington 25, D. C. A statement of the
source of the correct information will be useful.
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AA3Df C,ALB EL SEE A9Lt GAL:^n El.
'rIILL
22
44
N
12
42
W
540
00
AADAM LEHNO I SEE ADAM LEHENOY
H I l. L
21
15
N
15
09
W
540
00
AAGDET SEE AGUET
C L I F
20
56
N
12
SO
W
540
00
AAGUEILET TANAUDART SEC AGUNET
DEPR
20
08
N
16
14
W
540
00
AAICHA E D J E R A SEE AYCHA DlGIRA
HILL
21
19
N
13
42
W
540
00
AANtt DAYl~. EL
DEPR
26
51
N
8
27
W
540
07
AAMs DAIT EL SEE AAMf DAIA EL
DEPR
26
51
N
8
27
W
540
00
AARCf UAD
WAD 1
25
48
N
9
20
W
540
00
AAU 1 NAT Ut! FERQU 1 Cf UAD SE.E
AOUINET OUM FERFGIKr OUED
PIADI
25
32
'N
9
23
w
540
00
, ABh80YA
STRtA
6.
42
N
3
29
W
540
.03
ABADA
YELL
15
OS
N
S
SS
E
540
01
ABADAROKOUM
VJAD I
17
30
N
6
'16
E
540
01
ABqD t N
\NAD 1
19
08
N
O
45
E
540
01
ABAD'J ~ KOUTE
POPL
S
20
N
4
09
W:
540
03
, ABA ~ SK
vlELL
16
51
N
4
41
E
540
01
A9AICAR
WELL
15
17
N
S
'19
E
540
O'1
ABAKAT 1 A
STRivI
6
15
N
3
31
W
540
03
Af3AK0~1 RA
POPL
17
02
N
1
33
W
540
03
ABAKRp
POPL
S
25
N
3
14
W
540
03
A6ALA
AREA
16
45
N
8
00
E
540
07
' ABALA
WELL
14
54
N
3
28
E
540
07
_ A?qLACK SEE AEALAKH
WELL
15
1 1
N
5
08
E
540
00
ADALA~
POPL
14
54
N
3
29
E
540
01
ABALAK SEE EBAKA
WELL
15
17
N
6
15
E
540
00
ABALAK
WELL
16
48
N
8
02
E
540
01
A9ALAKH
WELL
15
1 1
N
S
08
E
540
01
J ABALAR
VJELL
15
51
N
5
39
E
540
O'I
A9ALAFLAR AFAGAG SEE
ABATAFtTAR AFAGAG
`NEI.L
17
54
N
S
12
E
540
00
ABALEtr1MA
VJAD I
15
34
N
6
23
E
540
01
ABALEMMA
V/EL L
16
16
N
7
49
E
540
01
ABALENE
V/i~D 1
'I 8
43
N �
2
38
E
540
01
ABANH:~LA � DUNE D~
DUNE
17
31
N
'I
13
E
540
01
A9ANKOR SEE BAIV KOR
H 1 L L
16
51
N
3
46
W
540
00
ABAOUA
POPL
6
22
N
3
52
W
540
03
- ABARA
DEPR
20
39
N
O
48
W
540
01
ABARAt HANEK SEE EL HAgARA
CLIF
22
38
N
12
22
W
540
00
_ ABARAGOUAL
WAD
18
SO
N
3
01
E
540
01
ABARAKAMt MONT
MT
19
24
N
7
40
E
540
O'I
ABARAKAT SEE IN TABARAKKAT
WADI
18
46
N
S
56
E
540
00
~
795
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ABARAKAT
4YELL
17
SO
N
5
03
E
540
O'i
ABARAM
POPL
13
47
N
1 1
26
E
540
O'f
ABARHE

bYELL
16
33
N
8
04
W
540
O'I
AC3ARHE PU ITS
SEE ABARHE
VYELL
16
33
N
0
04
W
540
00
_ ABARNACH
DEPR
17
29
N
2
42
W
540
01
~ ABAROK
%VELL
16
53
N
4
43
E
540
01
,
ABASSUE
STRM
5
53
N
3
27
W
540
03
ADATALEf OUED
'/JADI
20
45
N
O
35
W
540
02
ABATALLO
WADI
18
42
N
7
39
E
540
01
A3ATARTAR
\VcLL
17
53
N
S
08
E
540
01
ABATARTAR AFAG
AG
WELL
77
54
N
S
12
E
540
07
ASATEiv1tJA SEE
AS qLE.i1MA
`.VcLL
16
16
N
7
49
E
5,40
00
A B A T C L 1 f O U E D
Vi A D I
15
39
N
7
21
E
540
01
ABATCURK t DE
WELL
20
1 1
N
14
10
E
540
01
ABAZZAGOR
VlELL
17
20
N
7
25
E
540
01
AB9AKOIRA SEE
ABAI