GAOUAL

town and administrative capital of Gaoual region, northwestern Guinea, West Africa, on the Fouta Djallon plateau. It lies at the point where the Koumba and Nomo rivers join to form the Tomin and is at the intersection of trade routes from Bok, Lab, Tliml, and Koundara. It is the chief market town for cattle, peanuts (groundnuts), rice, millet, and cotton produced in the area and is also the site of a hospital. Gaoual region (area 4,439 sq mi [11,497 sq km]) is mostly a hilly savanna and is mainly inhabited by the Muslim Fulani (Peul), Landuma, and Tyapi peoples. Bauxite and iron-ore deposits have been discovered in the region. Pop. (1977 prelim.) region, 98,000.