One of the fastest growing cities in the world, Bamako sprawls across the flat plains to the north and south of the Niger River, with the Presidential Palace overlooking from the northern escarpment. The city is a major port, home to Mali's largest international airport and the Dakar-Niger Railway. Bamako is also a cultural hub, boasting multiple museums, a zoo, botanical gardens, the Bamako Grand Mosque and the Cathedral of Bamako.