Pointe-Noire

Pointe-Noire (pwăNt-nwär), city (1984 pop. 294,203), SW Republic of the Congo, Africa, a port on the Atlantic Ocean. Offshore oil drilling and oil refining are the city's most important economic activities. The port exports oil, tropical timber, cotton, palm products, peanuts, and coffee. Plywood, aluminum ware, and soap are manufactured, and there are shipbuilding and food-processing industries. The city is also a noted center for sport fishing. Founded in 1883, it acquired importance only after the completion (1948) of the railroad to Brazzaville and the construction (1934–39) of an artificial harbor. From 1950 until 1958 it was the capital of the French Congo.

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Pointe-Noire

City (pop., 1992 est.: 576,206) and port, southwestern Republic of the Congo. It was the capital (1950–58) of the Middle Congo region of French Equatorial Africa. With independence in 1958, it was replaced by Brazzaville as the national capital, but it remained important for trade. Its port facilities were completed in 1939 and expanded during World War II. The country's second largest city, it is a principal port and commercial centre, especially for the oil industry.