Niger River bend
The river runs broad and slow beside the city. Its islands and floodplain channels make the western edge of the map the most intricate part of the composition.
Minimalist map poster · Mali
Gao Map Poster & Print
16.2717° N / 0.0447° W
An old Saharan trading city on the eastern bend of the Niger, set between open desert and wide water
- 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
Gao 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 Gao, 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
Gao at home
The map
About this Gao map poster
Gao sits on the east bank of the Niger River, where the river curves through the southern edge of the Sahara. On a map the town is a spread of low blocks and sandy streets along the water, with the river forming a wide band to the west. Channels, islands and floodplain change shape through the seasons, so any map records one moment in that cycle.
For centuries Gao was a major trading city on routes across the Sahara, and in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries it was the capital of the Songhai Empire. The Tomb of Askia is a pyramidal mud-brick structure built for the emperor Askia Mohammed at the end of the fifteenth century. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Across the river stands a large pale sand dune, a familiar landmark for visitors watching the sunset. A Gao map poster uses a lot of open space. The curve of the Niger and the texture of the town stand out against the emptiness of the desert, and the composition feels spare and still.
- Population
- 133,000
- Coordinates
- 16.2717° N / 0.0447° W
- Elevation
- 257 m
- Time zone
- Bamako
- Region
- Gao, Mali
Tomb of Askia
The UNESCO-listed tomb stands within the town and gives the historic core a clear point of reference. It recalls Gao's time as the Songhai capital.
Desert margins
Away from the river the streets fade into open sand, and the city's edges become loose tracks. This shows how closely the settlement keeps to the water.
Make it yours
Frame your part of Gao
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 Gao
A map that means something
Gao means a great deal to people from the Songhai region and to anyone who has studied West African history. A poster of the river city can carry a personal title, a subtitle such as a family name or date, and the coordinates line.
Sand is a natural fit for a desert city, Blueprint emphasises the river, and Classic black & white, Noir and Paper each give a different contrast. Start with a free 900 px watermarked preview, then choose the $9 HD files or a printed poster.
Order the Gao 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.
Gao map poster — FAQ
How do I order the Gao 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 Gao 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 Gao 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 Gao 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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