Lake Nokoué
The broad, shallow lake fills most of the map. It surrounds the village and connects it to the shore and to Cotonou to the south.
Minimalist map poster · Benin
Ganvié Map Poster & Print
6.4644° N / 2.3929° E
A village of stilt houses on Lake Nokoué, where the streets are waterways and the map is mostly lake
- What you see is exactly what you get
- Up to 7,200 × 10,800 px · 300 DPI
- PNG + print-ready PDF
- No watermark
One city, five moods
Ganvié in every style
Tap a style to see it on the wall. Every style costs the same — printed, framed or as HD files.
Actual pixels · 24 × 36″ print filePrint-sharp
Every street in Ganvié, razor sharp
This is a 100% crop of the real print file. Every poster — printed, framed or downloaded — is rendered on our servers at 300 DPI, up to 7,200 × 10,800 pixels, so even the smallest lanes stay crisp on a 24 × 36″ print.
On the wall
Ganvié at home
The map
About this Ganvié map poster
Ganvié stands in the waters of Lake Nokoué, north of Cotonou in southern Benin, and is one of the best-known lake villages in Africa. Its houses are built on wooden stilts above the water, and people move between them by canoe. It is often called the Venice of Africa. On a map the usual relationship between streets and blocks is reversed, because the water is the space for moving around.
The village was founded by the Tofinu people, who, according to the accepted account, settled on the lake to escape slave raiders who were forbidden from entering the water. Today the settlement spreads across the shallow lake as clusters of buildings with channels between them, and the lake's wide surface surrounds it on every side.
A Ganvié map poster is a quiet, unusual image. A large, calm area of lake fills the frame, with the village appearing as a scattered pattern of structures and waterways and the shoreline visible at the edges. It shows a community that built a whole way of life on the water and has kept it for centuries.
- Population
- 20,000
- Coordinates
- 6.4644° N / 2.3929° E
- Elevation
- 2 m
- Time zone
- Porto-Novo
- Region
- Ganvié, Benin
Stilt-house clusters
Homes, markets and other buildings stand on stilts in groups across the water. They form an unusual pattern with no conventional streets.
Water channels
Canoe routes run between the building clusters and act as the village's streets. They give the drawing a loose, flowing structure.
Make it yours
Frame your part of Ganvié
Add a date, a name or a line of your own, switch style, size or orientation.
The free preview is low-resolution with a watermark. Prints and HD files are rendered at 300 DPI, up to 7,200 × 10,800 px, without a watermark.
Why Ganvié
A map that means something
Ganvié is unlike almost any other place on earth, and a map shows that at a glance. It suits travellers who have crossed the lake by boat, people from Benin, and anyone drawn to places built on water.
Personalise the title, subtitle and coordinates line, perhaps with the date of your visit. Choose Classic, Noir, Paper, Blueprint or Sand. Download the files in six print sizes for $9, or order a printed poster with an optional wooden frame.
Order the Ganvié posterWhat's in the HD download300 DPINo watermarkPNG + PDF
| Print size | Resolution | Files |
|---|---|---|
| 30 × 40 cm11.8 × 15.7″ | 3,543 × 4,724 px | PNG · PDF |
| 29.7 × 42 cm (A3)11.7 × 16.5″ | 3,508 × 4,961 px | PNG · PDF |
| 42 × 59.4 cm (A2)16.5 × 23.4″ | 4,961 × 7,016 px | PNG · PDF |
| 45.7 × 61 cm18 × 24″ | 5,400 × 7,200 px | PNG · PDF |
| 50 × 70 cm19.7 × 27.6″ | 5,906 × 8,268 px | PNG · PDF |
| 61 × 91.4 cm24 × 36″ | 7,200 × 10,800 px | PNG · PDF |
For comparison, the free preview is 900 px wide, watermarked and meant for screens. The HD files have up to 8× the resolution in each direction and print cleanly at full poster size.
Ganvié map poster — FAQ
How do I order the Ganvié poster?
Pick a style at the top of the page, then choose Printed Poster — a size and, if you like, a frame — or Digital HD Files. Checkout takes one step, and your order page updates as soon as the payment goes through.
What is the printed Ganvié poster like?
It is printed on premium 200 gsm matte paper in one of six sizes, from 30 × 40 cm to 24 × 36″. Printed posters start at $39, shipping included.
Can I order the Ganvié poster framed?
Yes. Choose a solid wood frame in black, white, natural oak or dark wood. It comes with shatterproof glazing and is ready to hang. Framed posters start at $99, shipping included.
How long does delivery take, and what does it cost?
Shipping is free to 60+ countries. Each poster is printed by the nearest of our print partners in 30+ countries and usually arrives in 3–7 business days. You can follow the status and tracking under My Orders. A few countries take 2–5 weeks, and where we don't ship yet, the site tells you before you pay.
What if my poster arrives damaged?
Send us a photo within 14 days of delivery and we will reprint it for free or refund you.
Can I add our names or a date to the Ganvié poster?
Yes. In the editor on this page, change the title, the subtitle and the coordinates line to anything you like, and pick a style and size. Printed, framed and digital orders all use exactly your design.
What do I get with the digital HD files?
For $9 you get 300 DPI PNG and print-ready PDF files in all six sizes, without a watermark, to print anywhere. Not sure yet? Download a free watermarked preview first.
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