Garoua (German: Garua) is a port city and the capital of the North Region of Cameroon, lying on the Benue River. It is the center of trade of the surrounding agricultural region and also houses several textile processing facilities. The city has 235,996 inhabitants according to the 2005 Census, making it the third most populous city in Cameroon after the seaport city of Douala and the capital, Yaoundé.Garoua is an oasis of green in the heart of the bush.