The Island of Gorée lies off the coast of Senegal, opposite Dakar. It testifies to an unprecedented human experience in the history of humanity. Indeed, for the universal conscience, this “memory island” is the symbol of the slave trade with its cortege of suffering, tears and death.
The painful memories of the Atlantic slave trade are crystallized in this small island of 28 hectares lying 3.5 km off the coast from Dakar. Gorée owes its singular destiny to the extreme centrality of its geographical position between the North and the South, and to its excellent strategic position offering a safe haven for anchoring ships.Thus,since the 15th century it has been prized by various European nations that have successively used it as a stopover or slave market. Until the abolition of the slave trade in the French colonies, the Island was a warehouse consisting of over a dozen slave houses.
Senegal
Date of Inscription: 1978
Dossier: 26
Ref: Unesco.Org
2006 Stamp- Fishing
Thank you Rebecca for sending the beautiful UNESCO heritage site card from Senegal. One more addition to my Rare country postcard collection.
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