Lands in Africa
...p, goats and camels Natural Resources: Petroleum, uranium, natron, kaolin and fish Industries: Cotton textiles, meat packing, beer brewing, natron, soap, cigarettes and construction materials Export Commodities: Cotton, cattle and textiles COTE D’IVOIRE Cote D’Ivoire received their independence from France in 1960 and is a country located in West Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Ghana and Liberia. Except for the highlands in the northwest, the most part of this country is a vast plateau. There are four major rivers in this country, running parallel from north to south. These rivers are not of much value for transportation as they are sluggish in the dry season, broken by falls and rapids and subject to flooding in the rainy season. Capital: Yamoussoukro (official) and Abidjan the administrative center Nationality: Ivorians Ethnic Groups: Akan, Voltaiques or Gur, Northern Mandes, Krous and Southern Mandes Languages: French (official) and 60 native dialects Religions: Christian, Muslim and Animist Currency: Communaute Fianciere Africaine Franc National Holiday: Independence Day – 7 August Climate: Tropical along the coast, semiarid in the far north – three seasons – warm and dry (November to March), hot and dry (March to May) and hot and wet (June to October) Natural Hazards: Coast has heavy surf and no natural harbors and during the rainy season torrential flooding Agricultural Products: Coffee, cocoa beans, bananas, palm kernels, corn, rice, manioc, sweet potatoes, sugar, rubber and timber Natural Resources: Petroleum, natural gas, diamonds, manganese, iron ore, cobalt, bauxite, copper and hydropower Industries: Foodstuffs, beverages, wood products, oil refining, truck & bus assembly, textiles, fertilizer, building materials and electricity Export Commodities: Cocoa, coffee, tropical woods, petroleum, cotton, bananas, pineapples, palm oil, cotton and fish GHANA Ghana received their independence from the U.K. in 1957 and is a country located in West Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote D’Ivoire and Toga. The coastline consists of a low sandy foreshore except in the west where the forest comes down to the sea. North of the forest is a savanna drained by the Black Volta and White Volta rivers. Apart from the Volta, only the Pra and the Ankobra rivers runs through the dunes, most of the other rivers end in lagoons. There are not natural harbors. Capital: Accra Nationality: Ghanaians Ethnic Groups: Black African (Akan, Moshi-Dagomba, Ewe and Ga) and European Languages: English (official) and African languages Religions: Indigenous beliefs, Muslim and Christian Currency: Cedi National Holiday: Independence Day – 6 March Climate: Tropical – warm and comparatively dry along the southeast coast, hot and humit in the southwest and hot and dry in the north Natural Hazards: Dry, dusty, harmattan winds occurs from January to March and droughts Agricultural Products: Cocoa, rice, coffee, cassava, peanuts, corn, shea nuts, bananas and timber Natural Resources: Gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber and hydropower Industries: Mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting and food processing Export Commodities: Gold, cocoa, timber, tuna, bauxite, aluminum, manganese ore and diamonds NIGERIA Nigeria received their independence form the U.K. in 1960 and is a country located in West Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Benin and Cameroon. Along the entire coastline of Nigeria lays a swamp forest and beyond the swamp forest lays a tropical rain forest that then rises from woodland to savannah. The third largest river in Africa is located in Nigeria, namely the Niger. Capital: Abuja Nationality: Nigerians Ethnic Groups: More than 250 ethnic groups – most popular Hausa, Fulani, Yoruba, Igbo, Ijaw, Kanuri, Ibibio and Tiv Languages: English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo and Fulani Religions: Muslim, Christian and indigenous beliefs Currency: Naira National Holiday: Independence Day – 1 October Climate: Varies – equatorial in South, tropical in the centre and arid in the North Natural Hazards: Droughts Agricultural Products: Cocoa, peanuts, palm oil, corn, rice, sorghum, millet cassava, yams, rubber, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, timber and fish Natural Resources: Natural gas, petroleum, tin, columbite, iron ore, coal, limestone, lead, zinc and arable land Industries: Crude oil, coal, tin, columbite, palm oil, peanuts, cotton, rubber, wood, hides and skin, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food products, footwear, chemicals, fertilizer, printing, ceramics and steel Export Commodities: Petroleum and petroleum products, cocoa and rubber COUNTRIES IN EAST AFRICA ETHIOPIA Ethiopia maintained their freedom from colonial rule and is a country located in East Africa, west of Somalia. The country has many different geographical zones, which varies from the harsh salt flats to Ras Dashan, the fourth highest peak in Africa, in the Simien Mountains. The most distinctive feature of Ethiopia is the Great Rift Valley. Lake Tana is the largest lake in Ethiopia and is the source of the Blue Nile River. Capital: Addis Ababa Nationality: Ethiopians Ethnic Groups: Oromo, Amhara, Tigre, Sidamo, Shankella, Somali, Afar, and Gurage Languages: Amharic, Tigrinya, Oromigna, Guaragigna, Somali, Arabic and English (major foreign language taught in schools) Religions: Muslim, Ethiopian Orthodox and animist Currency: Birr (ETB) National Holiday: National Day – 28 May Climate: Tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation Natural Hazards: Geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and frequent droughts Agricultural Products: Cereals, pulses, coffee, oilseeds, sugarcane, potatoes, qat, hides, cattle, sheep and goats Natural Resources: Small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash, natural gas and hydropower Industries: Food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metals processing and cement Export Commodities: Coffee, gold, leather products, oilseeds and qat KENYA Kenya received their independence in 1963 and is a country located in East Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania. The country has a fertile coastal region that gradually changes to a dry region covered with savanna and thorn bush. Two principal rivers in Kenya are the Tana and the Athi and it also boast with the lovely Lake Rudolf. Capital: Nairobi Nationality: Kenyans Ethnic Groups: Kikuyu, Luhya, Luo, Kalenjin, Kisii and Meru Languages: English (official), Kiswahili (official) and numerous indigenous languages Religions: Protestant, Roman Catholic, indigenous beliefs and Muslim Currency: Kenyan Shilling National Holiday: Independence Day – 12 December Climate: Varies from tropical along the coast to arid in the interior Natural Hazards: Recurring droughts in the northern and eastern regions and flooding during the rainy seasons Agricultural Products: Coffee, tea, corn wheat, sugarcane, fruit, vegetables, dairy products, beef, pork, poultry and eggs Natural Resources: Gold, limestone, soda ash, salt barites, rubies, fluorspar, garnets, wildlife and hydropower Industries: Agricultural products processing, oil refining, cement and tourism Export Commodities: Tea, coffee, horticultural products, petroleum products, fish and cement COUNTRIES IN CENTRAL AFRICA CAMEROON The former French Cameroon and part of British Cameroon merged in 1961 to form the present country. This country is located in Central Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria. This country has four regions, consisting of coastal plains, densely forested plateaus, savannas and forested mountains. The two main rivers in Cameroon are the Benue River and the Sanga River. Capital: Yaoundë Nationality: Cameroonians Ethnic Groups: Cameroon Highlanders, Equatorial Bantu, Kirdi, Fulani, North- western Bantu and Eastern Nigritic Languages: English (official) and French (official) and 24 major African languages Religions: Indigenous beliefs, Christian and Muslim Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine Franc National Holiday: Republic Day – 20 May Climate: Varies with terrain, from tropical along the coast to s...