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. Category:Headlands of Liberia . [112] Liberia's external debt was estimated in 2006 at approximately $4.5 billion, 800% of GDP. [126] Since 1926 Firestone has operated the world's largest rubber plantation in Harbel, Margibi County. [22] These free African Americans and their descendants married within their community and came to identify as Americo-Liberians. [citation needed] Liberia struggled to attract investment to develop infrastructure and a larger, industrial economy. Next is the region of rolling hills about 32 km wide and an average elevation of 90 m. Beyond that is a dissected plateau with scattered mountains. [68] During the winter months of November to March, dry dust-laden harmattan winds blow inland, causing many problems for residents. [80] In pigs here and in Ivory Coast, that includes Tbg group 1. [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. It built the Freeport of Monrovia and Roberts International Airport under the Lend-Lease program before its entry into the Second World War. Rainfall is irregular, and the rainy season varies in intensity and begins earlier at the coast than in the interior. The area includes Liberia's highest mountain, Mount Wuteve (Wutuwi) at 1,447 m, as well as several other peaks, including Mount Balagizi (1,100 m). [citation needed]. Liberia is bordered by the countries of Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, Sierra Leone, and by the Atlantic Ocean. [87], Parallel to the administrative divisions of the country are the local and municipal divisions. During World War II, Liberia supported the United States war effort against Germany, and in turn received considerable American investment in infrastructure, which aided the country's wealth and development. [7], In 1822, the American Colonization Society began sending free people of color to the Pepper Coast voluntarily to establish a colony. The", "Data: Improved sanitation facilities (% of population with access)", "Liberia: Breathing Life into ailing healthcare system", "Data: Health expenditure per capita (current US$)", "Data: Health expenditure, total (% of GDP)", "Liberian health authorities confirm two cases of Ebola: WHO", The Ebola response in West Africa: Exposing the politics and culture of international aid, "Liberia: War-Weary, With Echoes of Old Dixie", "Liberia: It's the Little Things A Reflection on Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's Journey to the Presidency", "Liberia: "Literature Must Be Given Priority", "Baa Salaka: Sacrificial Lamb A Book Review & Commentary", "George Weah: Ex-AC Milan, Chelsea & Man City striker elected Liberia president", "Liberia:Chaos Mars Grand Bassa and Nimba Clash", "Reforming Cocoa and Coffee Marketing in Liberia", "Gov't Pledges Commitment to Adopt Metric System", Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, List of countries by English-speaking population, List of countries where English is an official language, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Liberia&oldid=1150057700, English-speaking countries and territories, States and territories established in 1847, Articles with dead external links from May 2020, Articles with permanently dead external links, Articles with dead external links from September 2018, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia indefinitely move-protected pages, All Wikipedia articles written in Liberian English, Wikipedia introduction cleanup from January 2023, Articles covered by WikiProject Wikify from January 2023, All articles covered by WikiProject Wikify, Pages using infobox country or infobox former country with the symbol caption or type parameters, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2020, Articles with unsourced statements from March 2023, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2023, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2019, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2006, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Articles lacking reliable references from May 2022, Articles lacking reliable references from November 2015, Articles containing potentially dated statements from November 2014, Articles with MusicBrainz area identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. [197] In 2008, Liberia had only one doctor and 27 nurses per 100,000 people. [90] GDP per capita peaked in 1980 at US$496, when it was comparable to Egypt's (at the time). Corrections? "[163] That being said, numerous immigrants have come as merchants and become a major part of the business community, including Lebanese, Indians, and other West African nationals. Indigenous peoples comprise about 95 percent of the population. [92], In the past, both of Liberia's neighbors, Guinea and Sierra Leone, have accused Liberia of backing rebels in their countries. Clickable Map of Africa, showing the countries, capitals and main cities. This was a cause for concern among the British colonial authorities of Sierra Leone and the French colonial authorities of French Guinea and the Ivory Coast as tensions with Germany increased. Give their locations, and length in miles. This page was last edited on 16 April 2023, at 03:12. [50], In March 2003, a second rebel group, Movement for Democracy in Liberia, began launching attacks against Taylor from the southeast. For virtually all of its history, the AFL has received considerable material and training assistance from the United States. This was because they faced racial discrimination in the form of political disenfranchisement and the denial of civil, religious, and social rights. Other ingredients include cassava, fish, bananas, citrus fruit, plantains, coconut, okra and sweet potatoes. [148] In 2013, Liberia began importing power from neighboring Ivory Coast and Guinea through the West African Power Pool. For a treatment of earlier periods and of the country in its regional context, see western Africa. [193] In 2008, only 17% of the population had access to adequate sanitation facilities. Quakers believed black people would face better chances for freedom in Africa than in the U.S.[7][19] While slaveholders opposed freedom for enslaved people, some viewed "repatriation" of free people of color as a way to avoid slave rebellions. The Cavalla is the longest river in the nation at 320 mi (515 km). [15], The Pepper Coast, also known as the Grain Coast, has been inhabited by indigenous peoples of Africa at least as far back as the 12th century. 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. [7] Between 1822 and the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861, more than 15,000 freed and free-born African Americans, along with 3,198 Afro-Caribbeans, relocated to Liberia. Nicola Jones, Janice Cooper, Elizabeth Presler-Marshall and David Walker, June 2014; "The fallout of rape as a weapon of war", ODI; Pew Forum on Religious & Public life. [33] In 1914, Imperial Germany accounted for three quarters of the trade of Liberia. [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. [1] Senators serve nine-year terms and are elected at-large by a plurality of the popular vote. [citation needed] On July 16, 1892, Martha Ann Erskine Ricks met Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle and presented her a handmade quilt, Liberia's first diplomatic gift. Deforestation and drought in the Sahel have affected the climate, lengthening the dry season by almost a month in some areas. It lies between latitudes 4 and 9N, and longitudes 7 and 12W. At $0.54 per kWh, the cost of electricity in Liberia is among the highest in the world. Parallel to the coastal plains is a region of rolling hills some 20 miles (32 km) wide with an average maximum elevation of about 300 feet (90 metres); a few hills rise as high as 500 feet (150 metres). Liberia imports 90% of its rice, a staple food, and is extremely vulnerable to food shortages. As of 2016, it had approximately 9,118 students. The coastal plains are about 350 miles (560 km) long and extend up to 25 miles (40 km) inland. LinkedIn 15 Best Places to Visit in Liberia: Monrovia Sapo National Park Robertsport Buchanan Gbarnga Harbel Gola National Forest Bushrod Island Marshall Zwedru Kakata Greenville Harper Voinjama Sanniquellie [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. [209] Heavy stews spiced with habanero and scotch bonnet chilies are popular and eaten with fufu. Highly fertile alluvial soils represent a small percentage of the land area and are utilized largely for agriculture. 15th-century Portuguese navigators named itfor the cavalla (or horse mackerel) found at its mouth. Liberia is bounded by Sierra Leone to the northwest, Guinea to the north, Cte dIvoire to the east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the south and west. OECD Atlas of Gender and Development: How Social Norms Affect Gender Equality in non-OECD Countries, OECD Publishing, 2010. p 236. [186][187] A number of highly communicable diseases are widespread, including tuberculosis, diarrheal diseases and malaria. English is the official language, but over 20 indigenous languages are spoken, reflecting the country's ethnic and cultural diversity. 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. The 2000s saw an expansion of protected regions in Liberia, with new and enlarged wildlife reserves at Gola National Forest, the Wonegizi National Forest Reserve, and Lake Piso, and ecotourism was seen as a potential growth industry for the country. [25], On July 26, 1847, the settlers issued a Declaration of Independence and promulgated a constitution. The Dei, Bassa, Kru, Gola, and Kissi were some of the earliest documented peoples in the area. As of 2015, it had more than 8,000 mostly Liberian employees, making it the country's largest private employer. Encounters with tribal Africans in the bush often became violent. Liberia, country along the coast of western Africa. Additional rivers of note are the Lofa, St. Paul, St. John and Cestos River, all of which flow into theAtlantic. [69], The equatorial climate, in the south of the country, is hot year-round with heavy rainfall from May to October with a short interlude in mid-July to August. [46], Under Taylor's leadership, Liberia became internationally known as a pariah state due to its use of blood diamonds and illegal timber exports to fund the Revolutionary United Front in the Sierra Leone Civil War. [23], The ACS, supported by prominent American politicians such as Abraham Lincoln, Henry Clay, and James Monroe, believed "repatriation" was preferable to having emancipated slaves remain in the United States. [147] Construction of three new heavy fuel oil power plants is expected to boost electrical capacity by 38 MW. Liberia Bordering Countries: The Republic of Liberia is a country located in western Africa off the coastline of the Atlantic Ocean. )[37], Soon after, allegations of modern slavery in Liberia led the League of Nations to establish the Christy commission. [86], The fifteen counties are administered by superintendents appointed by the president. [73] Four terrestrial ecoregions lie within Liberia's borders: Guinean montane forests, Western Guinean lowland forests, Guinean forestsavanna mosaic, and Guinean mangroves. The three countries of Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Ivory Coast bound Liberia to the northwest, north, and east respectively. Longest distances: 274 kilometers (170 miles) from north-northeast to south-southwest; 548 . The government has three co-equal branches of government: the executive, headed by the president; the legislative, consisting of the bicameral Legislature of Liberia; and the judicial, consisting of the Supreme Court and several lower courts. [86] Montserrado is also the most populous county with 1,144,806 residents as of the 2008 census. Representative of Liberia to the United Nations, 198185. [1] The vice president serves as the President of the Senate, with a President pro tempore serving in their absence. The national capital of Monrovia is located in Montserrado. A striking feature of the mountainous northern highlands along the Guinea frontier is Mount Nimba. Behind the rolling hills, most of the countrys interior is a dissected plateau with scattered low mountains ranging from 600 to 1,000 feet (180 to 305 metres) in elevation; some mountains rise to 2,000 feet (600 metres). [83] A 2004 UN report estimated that 99% of Liberians burned charcoal and fuel wood for cooking and heating, resulting in deforestation. [72], Forests on the coastline are composed mostly of salt-tolerant mangrove trees, while the more sparsely populated inland has forests opening onto a plateau of drier grasslands. The oldest counties are Grand Bassa and Montserrado, both founded in 1839 prior to Liberian independence. B. Jallah to the International Association of Law Schools Conference Learning From Each Other: Enriching the Law School Curriculum in an Interrelated World Held at Soochow University Kenneth Wang School of Law, Suzhou, China, October 1719, 2007. 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. In a conscious effort to emulate the American South, the Americo-Liberian settlers adopted clothing such as hoop skirts and tailcoats, and excluded natives from economic opportunities, including creating plantations on which natives were forced to work as slaves. [60] In 2011, July 26 was proclaimed by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to be observed as National Independence Day. Four physiographic regions run nearly parallel to the Atlantic coast of the country. These features may represent social networks or some form of cultural diffusion allied to changing ecological conditions. [53] [90], From 1877 to 1980, the government was dominated by the True Whig Party. - 13488122 The country is home to a lush rainforest containing a rich diversity of flora and fauna. This makes them the youngest examples of such MSA technology anywhere in Africa. Between 1822 and the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861, more than 15,000 freed and free-born African Americans, along with 3,198 Afro-Caribbeans, relocated to Liberia. [173], In 2009, Tubman University in Harper, Maryland County was established as the second public university in Liberia. Mortality from tropical diseases was highof the 4,571 emigrants who arrived in Liberia between 1820 and 1843, only 1,819 survived. For other uses, see, Please help by moving some material from it into the body of the article. In Liberia, the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex serves as a multi-purpose stadium. Time zone: Noon = noon GMT. The Farmington River is a source of hydroelectric power. [80], The Desert Locust (Schistocerca gregaria) is a constant presence here. [68], Tropical rainforests cover the hills, while elephant grass and semi-deciduous forests make up the dominant vegetation in the northern sections. Many were of mixed race and educated in American culture; they did not identify with the indigenous natives of the tribes they encountered. The Liberian national basketball team has reached the AfroBasket twice, in 1983 and 2007. [76] After international protests, many of those logging permits were canceled. This triggered the First Liberian Civil War. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Christopolis was renamed Monrovia after President James Monroe and the colony was formally called Liberia (the free land). The House, led by a speaker, has 73 members apportioned among the 15 counties on the basis of the national census, with each county receiving a minimum of two members. [103] This score represented a significant improvement since 2007, when the country scored 2.1 and ranked 150th of 180 countries. [68] However, Mount Nimba near Yekepa, is higher at 4,724 feet (1,440m) above sea level but is not wholly within Liberia as Nimba shares a border with Guinea and Ivory Coast and is their tallest mountain as well. Much of Liberia's communications infrastructure was destroyed or plundered during the two civil wars (19891996 and 19992003). [46], The rebels soon split into various factions fighting one another. [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. [204], A rich literary tradition has existed in Liberia for over a century. Founded in 1988, the school is owned and operated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Monrovia. [76], Pollution is a significant issue in Monrovia. The Liberian constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the government generally respects this right. [58][59], In 2006, the government established a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to address the causes and crimes of the civil war. Quiz, Central Intelligence Agency - The World Factbook - Liberia, Liberia - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Liberia - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Findings included government involvement in widespread "Forced or compulsory labour". In 1824 the territory was named Liberia, and its main settlement was named Monrovia, which is the present-day capital. [43] The coup leaders formed the People's Redemption Council (PRC) to govern the country. 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. [20][21] By 1867, the ACS (and state-related chapters) had assisted in the migration of more than 13,000 people of color from the United States and the Caribbean to Liberia. 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. 2278117. 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. It was an important producer of rubber in the early 20th century. [12] Americo-Liberians encouraged religious organizations to set up missions and schools to educate the indigenous peoples. Includes 99 Liberia mountains. European traders would barter commodities and goods with local people. Crane, Keith; Gompert, David C; Oliker, Olga; Riley, Kevin Jack; and Lawson, Brooke Stearns. [174] Since 2006, the government has also opened community colleges in Buchanan, Sanniquellie, and Voinjama. Americo-Liberians formed into a small elite that held disproportionate political power; indigenous Africans were excluded from birthright citizenship in their own land until 1904.[11][12]. [81], The Hairy Slit-Faced Bat (Nycteris hispida) suffers from malaria here. [70] Because of its location in Africa, it is vulnerable to extreme weather, the coastal effects of sea level rise, and changing water systems and water availability. Liberias rainforest used to abound with animals such as monkeys, chimpanzees, small antelopes, pygmy hippopotamuses, and anteaters. [57] Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, a US-educated economist, former Minister of Finance and future Nobel Prize for Peace winner, was elected as the first female president in Africa. The government does not require businesses or schools to excuse Muslims for Friday prayers. 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. What part of Africa is Liberia located in? President William Tubman encouraged economic and political changes that heightened the country's prosperity and international profile; Liberia was a founding member of the League of Nations, United Nations, and the Organisation of African Unity. There are several unique species of bats and birds, and scorpions, lizards, and fish are numerous. After UN Security Council Resolution 1509 in September 2003, the United Nations Mission in Liberia arrived to referee the ceasefire with units from Ghana, Nigeria, Pakistan, and China with the view to assist the National Transitional Government of Liberia in forming the new Liberian military. It has 3,500 vessels registered under its flag, accounting for 11% of ships worldwide. [68] Climate change in Liberia causes many problems as Liberia is particularly vulnerable to climate change. Liberia is divided into 15 counties which are subdivided into 90 and further into clans. [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. Mean annual temperatures range between 65 F (18 C) in the northern highlands to 80 F (27 C) along the coast. Located in Monrovia, the university opened in 1862.
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