Calabar is a city in Cross River State

Cross River State

Cross River State is a coastal state in southeastern Nigeria, bordering Cameroon to the east. Its capital is at Calabar, and it is named for the Cross River , which passes through the state...

, southeastern Nigeria

Nigeria

Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...

. The original name for Calabar was Atakpa, from the Jukun language

Jukun language

Jukun or Djugun is an Australian Aboriginal language of Western Australia. There are no longer any fluent speakers of Jukun, but some people may remember it to some degree....

.
The city is watered by the Calabar

Calabar River

The Calabar River in Cross River State, Nigeria flows from the north past the city of Calabar, joining the larger Cross River about to the south. The river at Calabar forms a natural harbor deep enough for vessels with a draft of ....

 and Great Kwa

Great Kwa River

The Great Kwa River flows through Cross River State, Nigeria, draining the east side of the city of Calabar...

 Rivers and creeks of the Cross River

Cross River (Nigeria)

Cross River is the main river in southeastern Nigeria and gives its name to Cross River State.It originates in Cameroon, where it takes the name of the Manyu River....

 (from its inland delta).

Calabar is the capital of Cross River State

Cross River State

Cross River State is a coastal state in southeastern Nigeria, bordering Cameroon to the east. Its capital is at Calabar, and it is named for the Cross River , which passes through the state...

. For the purpose of administration, the city is divided into Calabar Municipal

Calabar Municipal

Calabar Municipal is a Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the city of Calabar.It has an area of 142 km² and a population of 179,392 at the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 540....

 and Calabar South

Calabar South

Calabar South is a Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Anantigha.It has an area of 264 km² and a population of 191,630 at the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 540....

 LGAs. It has an area of 406 km² and a population of 371,022 at the 2006 census.
The original town was known as Atakpa from the Jukun

Jukun people (West Africa)

Jukun are an ethno-linguistic group or ethnic nation in West Africa. The Jukun are traditionally located in Taraba State, Nigeria and parts of northwestern Cameroon. They are descendants of the people of the Kwararafa kingdom. most of the tribes in the north central of Nigeria trace their origin to...

 words Ata and Akpa.