The lagoon is connected to the Atlantic Ocean but sheltered from the big ocean waves, which makes its water much calmer. Long, thin strips of land separate the lagoon from the open sea. This calm water made the area a perfect place for a city to grow - boats could come and go safely without battling rough waves.
Every day, thousands of people cross the lagoon by ferry or pirogue to get from one part of Abidjan to another. These water taxis are a completely normal part of daily life, like a bus or underground train in other cities. Some children take a boat to school each morning.
Fishermen catch barracuda, mullet, and tilapia in the lagoon, selling their catch at busy waterside markets. Egrets and herons wade in the shallower parts hunting for smaller fish. Manatees - large, gentle mammals that look a little like seals - live in the quieter areas of the lagoon.