Douala is the economic and cultural capital of Cameroon. It is located on the Wouri River estuary, at the southwestern edge of the Gulf of Guinea. The city has a population of over 4 million and covers an area of over 2,000 km². Douala is Cameroon's most important seaport and is the center of the country's banking and industrial sectors. The city's industries include lumber, food processing, metalworking, and beer brewing.
The city is home to the University of Douala, the country's largest university, and to a number of other institutions of higher education. The city is also the birthplace of the saxophone.