MBALMAYO

town, south-central Cameroon. It lies along the Nyong River south of Yaound. Located within the forest zone, it has a major plywood factory, powered by electricity from the hydroelectric complex at Eda. It is also a commercial centre because of its position at the junction of three transportation routes: it lies on the main road south from Yaound, is the southeastern terminus of the railway from Douala, and serves as a river port on the Nyong River, which is seasonally navigable for 155 miles (250 km) from Mbalmayo east to Abong Mbang. Pop. (1987 est.) 38,919.