Elmina
This coastal town on Ghana's Atlantic shore, Elmina holds the distinction of being the first European settlement in West Africa. The Portuguese struck an agreement with the local king in the 1470s to build São Jorge da Mina Castle, and the town's name derives from the Portuguese word for "mine," a reference to the gold that also gave the Gold Coast its colonial name. Strong European cultural influence remains visible today, and the town sits a short distance west of Cape Coast.
Description drafted with AI from public sources such as Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap. How this works
- Population34,403
- Nearest water from center 0.8 km0.5 mi
- Nearest mountain from center 13 km8.0 mi
Elmina: quick answers
Where is Elmina?
Elmina is in Ghana, about 138 km86 miles in a straight line from Accra.
How do you get to Elmina?
The nearest airport is Sekondi-Takoradi (TKD), about 2 hr 35 min away by road.
What's the weather like in Elmina?
The warmest month is March, averaging 27°C81°F across day and night; the coolest is August, at 24°C75°F. The wettest month is June, with about 242 mm9.5 in of precipitation. (Monthly averages, 1991–2020.)
What's in Elmina?
OpenStreetMap lists 1 museum and 4 places of worship within 2 km of the centre.
What's near Elmina?
Other Wandering Well picks within 60 km include Cape Coast, Sekondi-Takoradi and Saltpond.