[74] It had a 2019 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 4.79/10, ranking it 116th globally out of 172 countries. [173], In 2009, Tubman University in Harper, Maryland County was established as the second public university in Liberia. These features may represent social networks or some form of cultural diffusion allied to changing ecological conditions. [57] Most parties suffer from poor organizational capacity. The Cavalla is the longest river in the nation at 320 miles (510km). Between ~43.5ka, these societies gradually transformed into food producers, possibly through contact with northern pastoralists and agriculturalists, as the environment became more arid. The climate is equatorial, with significant rainfall during the MayOctober rainy season and harsh harmattan winds the remainder of the year. [54], The United Nations Mission in Liberia began arriving in September 2003 to provide security and monitor the peace accord,[55] What part of Africa is Liberia located in? [81], The Hairy Slit-Faced Bat (Nycteris hispida) suffers from malaria here. [114] Following Sirleaf's inauguration in 2006, Liberia signed several multi-billion-dollar concession agreements in the iron ore and palm oil industries with numerous multinational corporations, including ArcelorMittal, BHP and Sime Darby. [113] Liberia gained observer status with the World Trade Organization in 2010 and became an official member in 2016. [76] In 2012, President Sirleaf granted licenses to companies to cut down 58% of all the primary rainforest left in Liberia. For most of the 194189 period, training was largely provided by U.S. advisors, with combat experience in the Second World War also playing a role in training. [57] Upon her inauguration, Sirleaf requested the extradition of Taylor from Nigeria and transferred him to the SCSL for trial in The Hague. [105], The Central Bank of Liberia is responsible for printing and maintaining the Liberian dollar, Liberia's primary currency (the United States dollar is also legal tender in Liberia). [216] However, this change has been gradual, with government reports concurrently using both United States Customary and metric units. [171] In other areas children are required to pay a tuition fee to attend school. [90] GDP per capita peaked in 1980 at US$496, when it was comparable to Egypt's (at the time). During the rainy season there is often severe flooding in the coastal plains. Hospitals in Liberia include the John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Monrovia and several others. Founded in 1988, the school is owned and operated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Monrovia. Their passage of the 1865 Ports of Entry Act prohibited foreign commerce with the inland tribes, ostensibly to "encourage the growth of civilized values" before such trade was allowed in the region. In alphabetical order, the 15 counties are Bomi, Bong, Gbarpolu, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado, Nimba, River Cess, River Gee, and Sinoe. Liberia is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Ivory Coast, Guinea, and Sierra Leone. The dusty and dry harmattan (desert winds) blow from the Sahara to the coast in December, bringing relief from the high relative humidity. Waterfalls, rapids, rocks, and sandbanks occur frequently in upstream sections of most rivers, inhibiting river traffic, and limiting navigation inland to short distances. Colonial settlements were raided by the Kru and Grebo from their inland chiefdoms. 2 Robin Dunn-Marcos et al., "Liberians: An Introduction to Their History Culture," Culture Profile No. [80] In pigs here and in Ivory Coast, that includes Tbg group 1. [111] This decline was accelerated by the outbreak of civil war in 1989; GDP was reduced by an estimated 90% between 1989 and 1995, one of the fastest declines in modern history. [88] All existing local governmentscities, townships, and a boroughwere created by specific acts of the Liberian government, and thus the structure and duties/responsibilities of each local government varies greatly from one to the other. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Liberia currently does not have any constitutional framework or uniform statutes which deal with the creation or revocation of local governments. Finally, there is a mountainous highland region to the north hosting the country's highest point, the 1,440 m high Mount Wuteve, which has been marked on the map by an upright yellow triangle. [113] Liberia used the United States dollar as its currency from 1943 until 1982 and continues to use the U.S. dollar alongside the Liberian dollar. The country is home to a lush rainforest containing a rich diversity of flora and fauna. Protestantism was originally associated with Black American settlers and their Americo-Liberian descendants, while native peoples initially held to their own animist forms of African traditional religion before largely adopting Christianity. Total capacity in 2013 was 20 MW, a sharp decline from a peak of 191 MW in 1989 before the wars. Professor of Geography, East Carolina College, Greenville, North Carolina. [84] Since 2006, the international community has paid for all garbage collection and disposal in Monrovia via the World Bank. pp. Liberia's Latitude is 6.428055 and Longitude is -9.429499. The Liberian national basketball team has reached the AfroBasket twice, in 1983 and 2007. This article is about the country in Africa. Adventist University of West Africa, a post-secondary learning environment that is situated in Margibi County, on the Roberts International Airport. On average, children attain 10 years of education (11 for boys and 8 for girls). The Mano and Morro rivers in the northwest and the Cavalla in the east and southeast are major rivers and form sections of Liberias boundaries. Liberia is divided into 15 counties which are subdivided into 90 and further into clans. Challenges of reservoir hosts and transmission cycles: Expect the unexpected", "Desert Locust Bulletin General situation during September 2021 Forecast until mid-November 2021", "Restoring the Battered and Broken Environment of Liberia One of the Keys to a New and Sustainable Future". [68] During the winter months of November to March, dry dust-laden harmattan winds blow inland, causing many problems for residents. Members are nominated to the court by the president and are confirmed by the Senate, serving until the age of 70. Located on the West African coast, Liberia covers an area of 111,369 sq. [77], Bushmeat is widely eaten in Liberia, and is considered a delicacy. [76], Endangered species are hunted for human consumption as bushmeat in Liberia. Column - Arts and Culture today is looking at a very important cultural heritage- The Providence Island, which was originally called the Dozoa Island. [79] A 2004 public opinion survey found that bushmeat ranked second behind fish amongst residents of the capital Monrovia as a preferred source of protein. Many were of mixed race and educated in American culture; they did not identify with the indigenous natives of the tribes they encountered. Other ingredients include cassava, fish, bananas, citrus fruit, plantains, coconut, okra and sweet potatoes. At $0.54 per kWh, the cost of electricity in Liberia is among the highest in the world. As observed on Liberia's physical map, the elevation of the land gradually increases with distance from the coast. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. [93], The Liberian National Police is the country's national police force. [151][152][153] An additional 13 ultra-deep offshore blocks were demarcated in 2011 and planned for auction. In 1980, political tensions from the rule of William R. Tolbert resulted in a military coup during which Tolbert was killed, marking the end of Americo-Liberian rule in the country and beginning over two decades of political instability. [40] In international affairs, it was a founding member of the United Nations, a vocal critic of South African apartheid,[41] a proponent of African independence from European colonial powers, and a supporter of Pan-Africanism. [60] In 2011, July 26 was proclaimed by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to be observed as National Independence Day. B Bushrod Island P Providence Island, Liberia Islands by country Islands of Africa by country Landforms of Liberia Hidden category: Commons category link is on Wikidata This triggered the First Liberian Civil War. The country enjoyed relative stability until a rebellion in 1989 escalated into a destructive civil war in the 1990s that did not fully cease until 2003. A striking feature of the mountainous northern highlands along the Guinea frontier is Mount Nimba. The national capital of Monrovia is located in Montserrado. Overview: Map: Directions: Satellite: Photo Map: Overview: Map: . However, these animals, along with the already threatened elephants, bush cows (short-horned buffalo), and leopards, were hunted for food during the civil war; their populations are recovering. August 9, 2012. [1] Each House member represents an electoral district within a county as drawn by the National Elections Commission and is elected by a plurality of the popular vote of their district into a six-year term. Associate Professor of Anthropology, University of Delaware, Newark. Deforestation and drought in the Sahel have affected the climate, lengthening the dry season by almost a month in some areas. Later Stone Age (LSA) populations evidence significant technological diversification, including both microlithic and macrolithic traditions. Outsiders' knowledge of the west of Africa began with a Portuguese sailor, Pedro de Sintra, who reached the Liberian coast in 1461. [154] Among the companies to have won licenses are Repsol YPF, Chevron Corporation, and Woodside Petroleum. On May 9, 2015, Liberia was declared Ebola free after six weeks with no new cases. Tbg and its vector Glossina palpalis gambiense are a constant presence in the rainforests here. [172], Higher education is provided by a number of public and private universities. Liberia has year-round evergreen vegetation. Liberias terrain ranges from the low and sandy coastal plains to rolling hills and dissected plateau further inland. Rape is the most frequently reported crime, accounting for more than one-third of sexual violence cases. For other uses, see, Please help by moving some material from it into the body of the article. Area: 111,370 square kilometers (43,000 square miles) Highest point on mainland: Mount Wutivi (1,380 meters/4,528 feet) Lowest point on land: Sea level. The Greater Monrovia District has 970,824 residents. [142] With low rates of adult literacy and high poverty rates, television and newspaper use is limited, leaving radio as the predominant means of communicating with the public. The lowest point of the country is the Atlantic Ocean at 0m. All structured data from the file namespace is available under the Creative Commons CC0 License; all unstructured text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; . [159] Nimba County is the next most populous county, with 462,026 residents. [129][130][131][132] Liberia has a climate favourable to farming, vast forests, and an abundance of water, yet low yields mean that over half of foodstuffs are imported, with net agricultural trade at -$73.12 million in 2010. Liberian independence was proclaimed in 1847, and its boundaries were expanded. [138] Gold, diamonds, and iron ore form the core minerals of the mining sector with a new Mineral Development Policy and Mining Code being put in place to attract foreign investments. In Liberia the shield has been intensely folded and faulted and is interspersed with iron-bearing formations known as itabirites. [102], Liberia scored a 3.3 on a scale from 10 (highly clean) to 0 (highly corrupt) on the 2010 Corruption Perceptions Index. [197] In 2008, Liberia had only one doctor and 27 nurses per 100,000 people. [207] Customary law allows men to have up to four wives. "Congos." For much of Liberia's early history, the Congos were classed below the Americo -Liberians. Life expectancy in Liberia is estimated to be 64.4 years in 2020. [16] Shortly after the Mane conquered the region, the Vai people of the former Mali Empire immigrated into the Grand Cape Mount County region. Other trees of value are rubber, cacao, coffee, and the raffia palm. The oldest counties are Grand Bassa and Montserrado, both founded in 1839 prior to Liberian independence. Representative of Liberia to the United Nations, 198185. [90] The judicial system is a blend of common law, based on Anglo-American law, and customary law. Congo people, descendants of repatriated Congo and Afro-Caribbean slaves who arrived in 1825, make up an estimated 2.5%. With an area of 11,551 sq. [47] From 1989 to 1997 around 60,000 to 80,000 Liberians died, and, by 1996, around 700,000 others had been displaced into refugee camps in neighboring countries. The interior has hot but pleasant days and cool nights during the dry season. The Senate is made up of two senators from each county for a total of 30 senators. [30][31][32], The leadership of the new nation consisted largely of the Americo-Liberians, who initially established political and economic dominance in the coastal areas that the ACS had purchased; they maintained relations with U.S. contacts in developing these areas and the resulting trade. "[29], American and other international interests emphasized resource extraction, with rubber production a major industry in the early 20th century. GeoNames ID. It hosts FIFA World Cup qualifying matches in addition to international concerts and national political events. The population includes 16 indigenous ethnic groups and various foreign minorities. [208], Liberian cuisine heavily incorporates rice, the country's staple food. Providence Island is situated between Mesurado River and Stockton creek, can be described as an interesting period in the history of Liberia and is very symbolic as a testament of how freed slaves forged nationhood out of their forced calamity upon gaining freedom when slavery was abolished. [68] Liberia's three largest rivers are St. Paul exiting near Monrovia, the river St. John at Buchanan, and the Cestos River, all of which flow into the Atlantic. They intermarried largely within the colonial community, developing an ethnic group that had a cultural tradition infused with American notions of political republicanism and Protestant Christianity. United Methodist University, a private Christian university located in Liberia, West Africa, it is commonly known amongst locals as UMU. This gave it a ranking 87th of 178 countries worldwide and 11th of 47 in Sub-Saharan Africa. The climate, especially on the coast, is warm and humid year-round, dominated by a dry season from November to April and by a rainy season from May to October. Indigenous peoples comprise about 95 percent of the population. The blank outline map represents the West African country of Liberia. [68], Following a peak in growth in 1979, the Liberian economy began a steady decline due to economic mismanagement after the 1980 coup. [106][107], Agriculture in Liberia is a major sector of the country's economy worth 38.8% of GDP, employing more than 70% of the population and providing a valuable export for one of the world's least developed countries (as defined by the UN). [121][122] These sanctions were lifted in 2006. Both Sierra Leone and the Ivory Coast annexed territories. [33] In 1914, Imperial Germany accounted for three quarters of the trade of Liberia. [164], According to the 2008 National Census, 85.6% of the population practiced Christianity, while Muslims represented a minority of 12.2%. In 2007, the HIV infection rates stood at 2% of the population aged 1549[188] whereas the incidence of tuberculosis was 420 per 100,000 people in 2008. [29] The United States did not recognize Liberia until 1862, after the Southern states, which had strong political power in the American government, declared their secession and the formation of the Confederacy. [111] Upon the end of the war in 2003, GDP growth began to accelerate, reaching 9.4% in 2007. [206], One-third of married Liberian women between the ages of 1549 are in polygamous marriages. [201], The religious practices, social customs and cultural standards of the Americo-Liberians had their roots in the antebellum American South. Howard Brotz, ed., African American Social & Political Thought 18501920 (New Brunswick: Transaction Publishers, 1996), 3839. As the nation's primate city, Monrovia is the country's economic, financial and cultural center; its economy is primarily centered on . Stella Maris Polytechnic, a post-secondary, private institution of higher learning. [149], Liberia has begun exploration for offshore oil; unproven oil reserves may be in excess of one billion barrels. One of the most well-known Liberian quilters was Martha Ann Ricks,[203] who presented a quilt featuring the famed Liberian coffee tree to Queen Victoria in 1892. [56] [49] The Second Liberian Civil War began in 1999 when Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy, a rebel group based in the northwest of the country, launched an armed insurrection against Taylor. Latosols of low to medium fertility occur in rolling hill country and cover about three-fourths of the total land surface. [13] A peace agreement in 2003 led to democratic elections in 2005. Monrovia (/ m n r o v i /) is the capital city of the West African country of Liberia.Founded in 1822, it is located on Cape Mesurado on the Atlantic coast and as of the 2008 census had 1,010,970 residents, home to 29% of Liberia's total population. During World War II, the United States made major infrastructure improvements to support its military efforts in Africa and Europe against Germany. [91], After the turmoil following the First and Second Liberian Civil Wars, Liberia's internal stabilization in the 21st century brought a return to cordial relations with neighboring countries and much of the Western world. km, Nimba is the largest country and Montserrado is the most populous one. This was because they faced racial discrimination in the form of political disenfranchisement and the denial of civil, religious, and social rights. The countrys first post-conflict elections, held in 2005, were noteworthy for the election of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to the presidency, as she was the first woman to be elected head of state in Africa. [96], Rape and sexual assault are frequent in the post-conflict era in Liberia. This institution was founded in 1998. [76] In September 2014, Liberia and Norway struck an agreement whereby Liberia ceased all logging in exchange for $150 million in development aid. As of October 2007 it has 844 officers in 33 stations in Montserrado County, which contains Monrovia. These new inhabitants brought skills such as cotton spinning, cloth weaving, iron smelting, rice and sorghum cultivation, and social and political institutions from the Mali and Songhai empires. The Dei, Bassa, Kru, Gola, and Kissi were some of the earliest documented peoples in the area. Give their locations, and length in miles. The 7 Best Small Towns In Nevada To Chill Out, 11 Coolest Small Towns in Washington for a Summer Vacation. The three countries of Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Ivory Coast bound Liberia to the northwest, north, and east respectively. 2278117. [101] When President Sirleaf took office in 2006, she announced that corruption was "the major public enemy. Official Name: Republic of Liberia Location: West Africa coast between Sierra Leone, Guinea, Cte d'Ivoire, and the Atlantic Ocean Population: 5,057,681 (as of 2020) Land Area: 43,000 square miles (111,369 square kilometres) Capital: Monrovia Official Language: English Form of Government: Unitary presidential constitutional republic The country's major rivers include the Mano River in the northwest and the Cavalla River in the southeast. Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}630N 930W / 6.500N 9.500W / 6.500; -9.500. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. [38] As a result of the report, President Charles D. B. A small number of people were Bah, Hindu, Sikh, or Buddhist. Competition for office was usually contained within the party; a party nomination virtually ensured election. [119] This led to a United Nations ban on Liberian diamond exports in 2001, which was lifted in 2007 following Liberia's accession to the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme. It has 3,500 vessels registered under its flag, accounting for 11% of ships worldwide. The Farmington River is a source of hydroelectric power. [37] (The loser actually received around 60% of the eligible vote. [26], By 1877, the True Whig Party was the country's most powerful political entity. Justification of Outstanding Universal Value. It was established on land acquired for freed U.S. slaves by the American Colonization Society, which founded a colony at Cape Mesurado in 1821. Born into slavery in Tennessee, Ricks said, "I had heard it often, from the time I was a child, how good the Queen had been to my peopleto slavesand how she wanted us to be free. The outline map represents the West African country of Liberia. Name the major rivers of Liberia. [12] Americo-Liberians encouraged religious organizations to set up missions and schools to educate the indigenous peoples. [28] The United Kingdom was the first country to recognize Liberia's independence. The "Black Continent" is divided roughly in two by the equator and surrounded by sea except where the Isthmus of Suez joins it to Asia. [49] By July 2003, the rebels had launched an assault on Monrovia. [76], Pollution is a significant issue in Monrovia. Mande-speaking people expanded from the north and east, forcing many smaller ethnic groups southward toward the Atlantic Ocean. The government does not require businesses or schools to excuse Muslims for Friday prayers. [68], Tropical rainforests cover the hills, while elephant grass and semi-deciduous forests make up the dominant vegetation in the northern sections. "China and Liberia: Engagement in a Post-Conflict Country 20032013". [57], The Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) are the country's armed forces. - 13488122 In 2008, 0.5% identified adherence to traditional indigenous religions, while 1.5% claimed no religion. Along the coast lie beds of sandstone, with occasional crystalline-rock outcrops. Official name: Republic of Liberia. The Liberian constitution exercises jus sanguinis, which means it usually restricts its citizenship to "Negroes or persons of Negro descent. A peace deal was signed later that month. Liberia is divided into 15 counties which are subdivided into 90 and further into clans. Five years of military rule by the People's Redemption Council and five years of civilian rule by the National Democratic Party of Liberia were followed by the First and Second Liberian Civil Wars. While Christian, many Liberians also participate in traditional, gender-based indigenous religious secret societies, such as Poro for men and Sande for women. the minorities snapchat,
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