The Republic of Benin (République du Bénin in French) is a West African nation wedged between Togo on the west and Nigeria to the east. Under French colonial rule and until 1975 it was called Dahomey, the name of a historic African kingdom; it changed its name to Benin because that name was more acceptable to all the country's ethnic groups. The country has been independent since 1960. Most of the country is in the interior; the sandy coastline is only about 120 km (75 mi) in length. Benin has no natural harbors and the artificially protected harbor of Cotonou is its only port. French is the official language of Benin. The French word for a lighthouse is phare, although a smaller light or harbor light is called a feu (literally "fire," but here meaning "light") or a balise (beacon). In French île is an island, cap is a cape, pointe is a promontory or point of land, roche is a rock, récife is a reef, baie is a bay, estuaire is an estuary or inlet, détroit is a strait, rivière is a river, and havre is a harbor. Aids to navigation in Benin are maintained by the Port Autonome de Cotonou. ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. Admiralty numbers are from volume D of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 113.
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Information available on lost lighthouses:
Adjoining pages: East: Nigeria | West: Togo
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Posted September 30, 2005. Checked and revised May 3, 2025. Lighthouses: 2. Site copyright 2025 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.