Mali - Life scene

• Mali - Life scene

Mali - a country in West Africa, which has no outlet to the sea. Since the coup in March 2012, life here has deteriorated significantly: stopped foreign investment dropped sharply and the number of tourists running Islamist militants, destroying ancient tombs of saints.

If earlier in Djenne - one of the oldest cities in Mali, ranked among the monuments of UNESCO World Heritage Site - attracts about 10,000 visitors a year, but now the number has dropped to 20 people since the coup!

Reuters photographer Joe Penny held this year in Mali a few months to make interesting pictures about the pearl in the crown of Africa.

What is the main source of income in Mali? Gold. In recent years, the country produces about 50 tons of gold per year, which is 20% of the country's GDP and about 70% of exports.

The typical buyer of gold in Mali, sitting next to his stalls.

After the coup, gold production in Mali, as well as everything else was threatened. Although in recent years the situation began to normalize.

Well, this is a typical gold digger from Mali. He is sitting with a saucepan in a small mine.

If we move a little further, that the mine, which washes Malian gold is a pit. Generally, Mali is the largest exporter of cotton in the region and the third largest in Africa, gold mining.

The fees for work in gold mining. In the foreground - gold miner with the tool, Mali.

And here's mine, where the gold mining group. Uninitiated difficult to understand what kind of scattered tools, whether they help in the extraction of gold, or need to repel rivals. Although, if you look closely, it becomes clear that it's a pickaxe.

Great Mosque in Djenne - the largest alluvial clay-building in the world! One of the most famous landmarks in Africa. As part of the object "old city of Djenne" Mosque is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.

Traditional window in Moorish style. Islamic Institute in Djenne.

When did the coup in Mali, many had to leave their homes. This refugee camp for people fleeing violence in northern Mali. It is a temporary home to more than 64 000 people.

The librarian of the city of Djenne on the background of the Qur'an fragments recorded on pieces of wood. According to various estimates, in private collections there are more than 10,000 manuscripts of 14-20 centuries.

The word "Koran" comes from the Arabic "reading aloud", "edification." the sacred book of the Muslims is a collection of sayings of the Prophet Muhammad made them the name of Allah.

The workers at the largest factory in Mali for the production of animal feed. Working conditions also not the latest here. And this despite the fact that the turnover of millions of dollars.

The Director General of the enterprise for the production of animal feed in his office.

But not all done by hand in Mali. For example, this portion of mechanized production of plastic packages for storing cotton.

As already mentioned, coming from one of the oldest cities in Mali - Djenne - 10 000 visitors a year, in 2012, came to a total of 20 people since the coup. Hotels in the city are closed, including the largest - Le Campement. This photo conference hall in the closed and abandoned hotel.

About the mosque in the city of Djenne. Life in Mali boils.

Malian millionaire businessman at his residence in Bamako (capital of Mali). All after a coup in March 2012, was bad, the millionaire says he has no losses.