Guinea, West Africa
In 1958, Guinea was the first colony in Africa to gain its independence from France through an effort led by the country’s first president, Sekou Touré.
Guinea is ~94,891 sq mi, which is about the size of Oregon. It is divided into 4 main regions: Basse Côte (Lower Guinea-lowlands), Moyenne Guinée(Middle Guinea), Haute Guinée (Upper Guinea-savannah), and the Forest/Jungle region.
The Atlantic coastline includes 218 miles of mangroves and beautiful beaches.
Bordered by Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, Mali, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire.
Population: about 10.5 million and is growing at an annual rate of 2.8%.
Guinea contains approx. 24 different ethnic groups. The most prominent being Peul, Malinke and Sousou.
45% of Guineans are under the age of 15. Life expectancy is 50 years, and child (under 5 years of age) mortality is 90 per 1,000 live births.
Literacy is at about 29.5%.
Guinea is described as “the water tower of West Africa,” and has considerable potential to generate hydroelectric power for industry and provide irrigation for agriculture.
Guinea is the starting point of the Gambia, Senegal and Niger Rivers, among others.
Climate is tropical with average high of 85 and average low of 74 (but in Haute near the savannah it is said to get up to over 100), rainy season lasts from June to November, Dry season is December to May.
Most of the population is Muslim, but there are also some Christians as well some traditional animists.
The official language is French, but local dialects are also spoken (which I will also have to learn, based on where my site will be).
Guinea possesses between one-fourth and one-third of the world’s known bauxite reserves and is the worlds #1 exporter of bauxite. Other leading crop exports are: coffee, banana, palm kernels, and pineapple.
Guinea held its 1st democratic election THIS year on November 7th, 2010.
No comments:
Post a Comment