Gao is a city in Mali on the Niger River. It is the capital of the Gao Region. The city has a population of 97,291 (2009 census). It is served by Gao Airport.
The town is located in the heart of the Songhai Empire and was a major center of Islamic learning from the 12th to the 16th centuries. The present town was founded in the 16th century by the Songhai ruler Sunni Ali. The city was the capital of the Songhai Empire from the 14th century to the 16th century.
The city is known for its mud-brick architecture, most notably the Great Mosque of Gao, which is one of the largest mosques in Africa. The city is also home to the University of Gao, founded in 2006.
Average temperatures during the day in Gao.