Education

Mali (country). State in West Africa

August 30, 2015

Each country has a lot interesting features and details. There is a lot to be said about any of them. Especially if it is a distant and exotic land. For example, the African Republic of Mali. What is the first thing you should know about it?

Geographical position

Mali can be found on the map in the west of the African continent. The country's territory occupies almost one and a half million square kilometers, or more precisely, 1.24. Twenty-two thousand of them are occupied by water, and the rest are land. The size of the country can be better understood by knowing that it is comparable to South Africa or twice the size of Texas. The length of the border is seven thousand two hundred and forty-three kilometers. To the west of the country is Senegal, to the north are Algeria and Mauritania, to the east are Niger and Burkina Faso, to the south of Mali is the country of Cote d'Ivoire, formerly known as the Ivory Coast, as well as Guinea.

Capital and regions

Like any country, Mali has a complex system administrative division. According to it, the territory is divided into eight regions. A separate unit is the capital of Mali - Bamako. The regions are divided into districts, of which there are two hundred and eighty-eight in the country. In addition to the administrative division, there is also a geographical one. The nature of Mali is divided into five large areas. These are deserts in the north of the state, a transition region - the Sahel, two types of savannas and the territory of the Niger Delta.

water pool

The largest river is the Niger, which flows from Guinea, crosses Mali and heads northeast. There are many branches, channels and lakes, as well as swamps in the riverbed. In the delta there are structures that allow the distribution of water for irrigation. Since the Republic of Mali is located in a fairly dry region, the presence of hydraulic engineering is of great importance for it. Some artificial irrigation canals follow the historical course of the Niger. In the west of the country there is also the Senegal River, which appears as a result of the confluence of Bakoy and Bafing. In its delta there is the most low point Mali. The country is also distinguished by several elevations. In the southwest, the sandstone mountains frame the upper basin of the Niger and the Bani, which is a tributary.

Mountain ranges

In addition to the sandstone plateaus, there are other zones of uplift in the territory. The mountains between the cities of Gao and Mopti are especially pronounced. To the east of the latter there is a remnant massif called Hombori. Highest point is a mountain one thousand one hundred and fifty-five meters high. This is a record not only for the massif, but for the entire country. Another major elevation is the Adrar-Iforas plateau.

Vegetation

Despite the harsh, hot climate that characterizes Africa, Mali boasts a variety of flora. Most of the areas are covered with a variety of shrubs and grasses. In the Sahel there are acacias, doum palms, baobabs, nere, kapok trees, shea butter, ceiba, wild plums and other exotic varieties. In the south there are ronier palms, Senegalese kayas, terminalia, and various herbaceous plants.

Animal world

The fauna of Mali is impressive with its incredible diversity. In desert areas, large antelopes are most often found - oryxes, addaxes, as well as gazelles, cheetahs, giraffes and striped hyenas. Savannahs are home to warthogs - African wild pigs, and various predators- jackals, lions and leopards. Antelopes are common. Unfortunately, the number of elephants is constantly decreasing. The rivers and lakes of Mali are of considerable importance. The country is engaged in fisheries, the most valuable is the Nile perch, also known as the “captain”. Insects are widely represented - bees, mosquitoes, termites, midges. Many varieties are dangerous to the health of animals and people. The state is responsible for the protection of flora and fauna national park called Boucle du Baule.

Natural resources

All kinds of resources necessary for the active development of the state are well represented in Mali. The country boasts deposits of precious metals and stones - gold and diamonds are mined here. In addition, copper, bauxite, manganese, uranium, granite, lithium, and table salt can be found in the mines of Mali. There is also kaolin clay in the country.

Climatic conditions

The country is located in a tropical continental zone. To the south, where the capital of Mali is located, the climate is subequatorial. There alternate dry and rainy seasons. The first lasts from November to June, and the second from July to October. During the dry season, northeasterly winds prevail in the country, which lead to sandstorms. In the center of Mali, Bamako, there are impressive temperature fluctuations within one day - in the evenings, nights and early mornings it is cool here, and by noon the thermometer shows more than thirty degrees of heat. In the Sahara region there are harmattan winds, characterized by hurricane force. The temperature here reaches forty-five degrees Celsius. The maximum amount of precipitation differs southern territories- up to one and a half thousand millimeters falls here per year. There are regular droughts throughout the country. In the Sahara region, one hundred and fifty millimeters of rain fall per year, near the city of Timbuktu - two hundred and thirty.

Peoples of Mali

Almost one hundred percent of the country's population is represented by Negroids. Only on some northern territories There are representatives of the Mediterranean type of Caucasians - Arabs and Tuaregs. The ethnic diversity of Mali is impressive - the people of the state number in the dozens. Most of them belong to the Niger-Cordo-Fan language family, there are also representatives of the Western Atlantic, Afroasiatic and Voltaic. The most numerous people are the Bambara, speakers of the most widespread language. This ethnic group can be found in the central part of the country. Next is Malinke with representatives in the west. Like the previous one, these people are mainly engaged in agriculture and livestock breeding.

Both the Senufo and the Mande live by agriculture. On the banks of the Niger live the Songhai, engaged in nomadic cattle breeding. In the most rocky regions live the Dogon, who amazingly achieve success in agriculture in the most unfavorable areas. The Tuaregs deserve special mention. They are a nomadic people from the east. The Arabs are engaged in cattle breeding and trade in the area of ​​Lake Fagibin and in the Sahara. Despite the fact that this people is not the most widespread, it greatly influences the development of the state. Thus, the Muslim religion spread under their influence and became the choice of the majority.

An interesting ethnic group is the Fulani. Their appearance combines characteristics of the Negroid and Caucasian races. They have light brown skin. Fulani live on the coast Atlantic Ocean and in the Sahel region, as well as in the Niger Delta. The population that does not adhere to Muslim customs retains traditional beliefs. People worship plants, animals, stones, and also honor the spirits of ancestors. It is interesting that some peoples accept Islam, but retain certain pagan beliefs. The country is characterized by a high rate of population growth - over the last fifteen years, the number of residents has increased by more than two percent annually. Almost half of the citizens are under fifteen years of age, and those of retirement age are no more than six percent.

State symbols of Mali

The country gained independence not so long ago. The symbolism appeared in 1961, after the country ceased to be part of the French Community. The flag is used as a canvas in the shape of a quadrangle, the length of which relates to the width in the proportion of three to two. It is used on land for government, civil and military purposes. The flag is divided into three vertical stripes of equal size. There is a light green stripe at the shaft, a bright yellow stripe in the center, and a red stripe at the edge. The first is a symbol of hope, fields and pastures, agriculture, on which the economy is based. It is also a sign of constant innovation and modernization. Yellow indicates the mineral wealth that belongs to every resident of the country. Finally, red is a sign of the struggle for freedom and independence. Previously, the flag of the colony was a French cloth, complemented by a black figurine of a Kanaga. This is an image of a person that was invented by supporters of the idea of ​​​​the exclusivity of the Negroid race. The racist figure was removed from the symbolism in 1961. Unusually, the coat of arms does not contain the colors of the flag. It is a blue disk on which is drawn a white falcon with a bow and arrow, complemented by a crown.

Beautiful and vibrant Africa is the second largest continent in the world. More than 1 billion people live in its vastness. And its lands are conventionally divided into 5 regions. By tradition, African countries, the list of which consists of 62 items, are classified as the following regions:

• Yuzhny.
• Western.
• Northern.
• Eastern.
• And Central.

This division is due to different geographical and climatic conditions, differences in cultures and forms of government of states.

Africa has dependent and independent territories. There are 37 countries with access to seas and oceans. Present (10 units). And 16 countries located in the interior of the continent.

African countries: list of states in the Southern region

South Africa retains memories of the colonial period. Nuclear weapons were developed on its territory, which the government later abandoned. It includes the following countries:

• Zimbabwe;
• Mozambique;
• Comoros Islands;
• Seychelles;
• Mauritius Island;
• Reunion;
• Madagascar;
• Lesotho;
• Botswana;
• Swaziland;
• Namibia.

The largest country on this earth is the Republic of South Africa (RSA). Almost the entire population of the Southern Region lives and works there. There are 11 officially accepted languages ​​in this territory. The ethnic composition of South Africa is a diverse group of numerous religious affiliations.

The proximity of the Atlantic and Indian Ocean makes South Africa attractive for tourism. In the southern part of the continent all year round warm and humid. But the climate prevails is moderate, so the heat is tolerated quite easily.

African countries: list of states in the Western region

The humid and windy climate of West Africa is directly dependent on the capricious trade winds. This territory consists of the following countries:

• Sierra Leone;
• Senegal;
• Benin;
• Burkina Faso;
• Gambia;
• Ghana;
• Togo;
• Guinea;
• Guinea-Bissau;
• Cape Verde;
• Cameroon;
• Mauritania;
• Nigeria;
• Niger;
• Mali;
• Liberia;
• Cote d'Ivoire;
• Saint Helena Islands.

The Western region is home to many African languages. On its territory, oral folklore is still valued today. And ceremonial dances are included in the program of every significant holiday.

The natural border of this land in the east is the Cameroon Mountains. In the south of the region itself the legendary Sahara Desert begins. And in the west, the natural border is formed by the Atlantic Ocean.

The Federal Republic of Nigeria several years ago received the status of the largest oil producer. Most of the population speaks several dialects at once. There are 527 officially recognized languages ​​in this country. Among them there are 11 “dead” dialects; English and several other languages ​​of the local ethnic group are taught in state schools.

Abuja is the Nigerian capital, chosen by the government as the most ethnically neutral place in the Western region. After the completion of the main stages of construction in 1976, Abuja received the status of the main city of Nigeria instead of the overcrowded Logos.

African countries: list of countries in the Northern region

A significant part of the Northern region is occupied by the sands of the Sahara Desert. With endless sandy sea border largest states of the entire African continent:

• Sudan;
• Tunisia;
• Algeria;
• Morocco;
• Libya;
• SADR;
• Egypt.

The Mediterranean natural area is considered very comfortable for living. Therefore, large tourist sites of the African continent are located there, which are known throughout the world.

The region's economy is in better shape than other parts of Africa. The proximity of Europe affects not only the development of the region, but also its cultural heritage.

Tunisia is a country that has the most competitive economy of all African countries. About 10 million people live in Tunisia. most of of which speaks Arabic. Almost the entire population northern state professes Islam. The Mediterranean climate makes Tunisia an important tourism sector. The culture of the country contains many diverse trends that are organically woven into daily life Tunisian people.

African countries: list of states in the Eastern region

To the East of the mysterious Nile there are several countries that make up the Eastern Region. Among them are such states as:

• Ethiopia;
• Eritrea;
• Uganda;
• Tanzania;
• Somalia;
• Mayotte;
• Kenya;
• Djibouti;
• Zambia;
• Comoros;
• Malawi.

The climate of Eastern Africa is arid central regions. But on the coast it quickly changes to tropical. Former colonists set state boundaries quite arbitrarily. Due to the fact that cultural and religious trends were not taken into account, the development of the Eastern region is happening at a very slow pace.

Kenya - not only favorite with tourists corner, but also a place that has amazing flora and fauna. Located in Kenya a large number of reserves protected by the international organization UNESCO.

In Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, people speak English and the local dialect Swahili. For a long time this country was a British colony.

African countries: list of states of the Central region

The following states are located in the heart of Africa:

• Angola;
• Congo;
• Sao Tome;
• Equatorial Guinea.

These countries are endowed with a subequatorial climate. Thanks to the extensive river system, it is there that you can see endless forests consisting of evergreen and deciduous trees.

The Republic of Congo is extremely rich in mineral resources. This circumstance several centuries ago contributed to the emergence of the African “gold” rush in the country.

The capital of the country with unusual name Brazzaville is quite developed in terms of education. The literacy rate of the population there reaches 82%. The state's economy is based on oil production and agriculture. The cultural sector is represented by folk art. The direction of contemporary art is also well developed.

All African countries, the list of which is given above, are considered officially recognized states. Meanwhile, many territories of the African continent have recently embarked on the path of international recognition and are not yet real states. But they still have symbols of borders on some maps.

Anthropologists call Africa the cradle of civilization. According to research, human culture first appeared there. It’s paradoxical, but in the place where all living things originated, there are still corners where no human has set foot. Of the 29 million square meters, only a small part is inhabited by people. The rest of the area is deserts and tropical forests. African fauna is unique. found nowhere else on this continent.

Exploring the countries of Africa, the list of which is so diverse, it is difficult to imagine that the Sahara Desert occupies an area larger than the entire territory of the United States. Also, half of the world’s gold is mined on the continent. And the name of this part of the world comes from one of the most ancient tribes, “Afri”.

Details Category: West African countries Published 03/17/2015 10:48 Views: 1994

The name "Liberia" means "Land of Freedom". After all, Liberia was founded as an independent state by freeborn and freed American blacks.

The official name of the state is Republic of Liberia. It borders with Sierra Leone, Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire. In the west it is washed by the Atlantic Ocean.

State symbols

Flag– is a rectangular panel with an aspect ratio of 10:19. The flag of this country resembles the US flag: it consists of 11 stripes (6 red and 5 white) and a blue field with a white star. The eleven stripes represent the eleven signatures on the Declaration of Independence. Red symbolizes courage, and white symbolizes moral principles. White Star symbolizes the liberation of slaves, and the blue square represents the African continent. The flag was approved on July 16, 1847.
The flag of Liberia is the most common flag of the world merchant fleet (about 1,600 ships from other countries fly this flag). This fact is explained by the low cost of duties for using the flag compared to other countries.

Coat of arms– is a shield depicting a 19th century ship arriving in Liberia. The ship symbolizes the ships that brought freed slaves from the United States to Liberia. Above the shield is an unrolled scroll with Liberia's national motto: "The love of freedom brought us here." Under the shield is a scroll indicating English language official name country: "Republic of Liberia".
The plow and shovel are symbols of the dignity of labor and hard work through which a nation will prosper. Rising Sun in the background symbolizes the birth of a nation. The palm tree is the most versatile source of nutrition for Liberians. The white dove with scroll symbolizes the breath of peace.

State structure

Form of government- presidential republic.
Head of State and Government– the president, who is elected by general direct elections (by secret ballot) for a 6-year term. There is a post of vice president.

Incumbent since 2006 Helen Johnson Sirleaf. She is the first female president of an African country. Graduated from Harvard University.
Capital and The largest city – Monrovia.
Official language– English, which is spoken by about 20% of the population. The rest speak indigenous languages, which are mostly unwritten.
Territory– 111,369 km².
Administrative division– 15 counties (districts), which are divided into 53 districts (districts).
Population– 4,294,000 people Ethnic composition: Aboriginal blacks 95%, descendants of blacks from the USA 2.5%, descendants of blacks from other countries Caribbean Sea 2.5%. The urban population is 60%.

Religion– Christians 85%, Muslims 12%, aboriginal cults 1.5%, Bahais, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists.
Currency– Liberian dollar.
Economy– The country is one of the poorest countries in the world. About 80% of the population lives below the poverty level.
One of largest articles revenues are duties for the use of the Liberian flag by merchant ships of other states.

Sugar cane grinding
Major mineral resources: large reserves iron ore, there are placers of gold, diamonds, and rare earth elements. Agricultural, forestry, and hydropower resources are also good. But Liberia's main exports are still raw timber and rubber, and iron ore. Export: coffee, cocoa, diamonds, timber, iron ore. Import: fuel, chemicals, machinery, transport equipment, food. Transport: road, railway, water, air.
Education– 9 years of primary education is officially compulsory, which children receive between the ages of 7 and 16. Education in primary and high school free (except for an annual entrance fee of 10 thousand Liberian dollars). During the civil war, many schools were destroyed. There is one university in the country - the University of Liberia (opened in Monrovia in 1951 on the basis of the Liberian College). The university is under state control, teaching is in English.
Sport- Football is popular. The country has taken part in 11 Summer Olympics since 1956. It has not participated in the Winter Olympics. Liberian athletes have never won an Olympic medal.
Armed forces- ground forces, navy, air force. The police ensure internal order.

Nature

The coastline of Liberia is partially indented by lagoons, mangrove swamps, and estuaries (the mouth of a river that widens toward the sea). The country has a fairly extensive network of rivers. Most large rivers: Mano, St. Paul, Lofa, St. John, Cess and Cavalli. Only the lower St. Paul River is navigable.
Forests occupy 18% of the territory. These are mainly Guea palm trees, valuable tropical species. Liberia has significant reserves of valuable timber.

Acacias, baobabs and other types of trees grow in savannas. Mangrove forests grow on the coast.
The coast is beautiful sandy beaches, but many of them are in disrepair.

Sapo National Park created in 1983. This is an island pristine nature an area of ​​1800 km² occupied by tropical rainforests. Animals of the park: pygmy hippopotamuses and antelopes, forest elephants, large forest pig, pangolins. In total, more than 100 species of mammals and about 600 species of birds live here.

Pygmy hippopotamus
There are more than 140 species of mammals in Liberia. The forests are home to a wide variety of insects (from termites to tsetse flies), birds, amphibians and reptiles. Wild animals remain mainly in the east and north-west of Liberia: elephants, leopards, antelopes, brush-eared pigs, African (black) buffalo.

Brush-eared pig
Climate tropical: heat and high humidity.

Culture

The most common type of folk dwelling is a hut built on a frame made of poles. The walls are made of stakes held together by vines or bamboo bundles; the outside is plastered with white clay. Walls and sometimes doors are covered with carvings or colored paintings of a geometric nature. The conical roof is made of raffia palm leaves or grass. Often a spire decorated with a faience plate is installed on the roof.

IN modern cities Of course, modern houses are being built - made of brick, reinforced concrete and glass.
Wooden masks are used in rituals, especially in the Poro, Bundu and Sande secret societies.

Mende masks are narrow faces framed by a high hairstyle, the head is carved together with the neck, which is decorated with several rings. Among the Loma people, masks are called “Landa” - these are images of long, flat faces with a convex forehead and small horns.

Professional art began to develop after the Second World War. One of Liberia's most famous artists and sculptors - Laron Brown.
Crafts and arts are developed: wood carving, ivory carving, pottery, metal working, weaving baskets and bags from straw and plant fibers.
Modern literature is developing in English and local languages.

Professional musicians and singers appeared in the middle of the 20th century. Popular musician Otto Brown, traditional music ensemble “Loffa-30”. Popular music in the styles of high-life and al-jad has become widespread.

Sights of Liberia

Monrovia

Capital of Liberia. Located in an artificial bay at the mouth of the Saint Paul River. Population 1,010,970 people.
Tourists in Monrovia may be interested in National Museum Liberia, Monrovia Masonic Palace, shore market and several beaches, Antoinette Tubman Stadium for 10,000 people, sports complex Samuel Doe Canyon seats 40,000 and is one of the largest in Africa.

Masonic Palace

Samuel Canyon Dow Sports Complex

National Multi-Purpose Complex, built in 1986. Was destroyed during the First and Second civil wars in 1980-2003 Reconstructed in 2007
Mainly used for football matches, it has an athletics track.
The stadium surface is grass. Plasma video screens show the progress of the competition.

Lake Piso

Salt lake with an area of ​​about 100 km², one of the largest in Liberia.
There are several islands on it, the lake is connected to the Atlantic Ocean by narrow channels. In 1999, the lake was declared a protected area, and work is underway to study and preserve the unique flora and fauna of this region.
In the past the lake was quite major resort, which fell into disrepair during the First and Second Civil Wars. Lake Piso attracts fishing enthusiasts, water sports and ethnotourism.

Centenary Pavilion

A symbol of Liberian statehood, ceremonies and holidays significant for the country are held here. It was built in 1947 in honor of the 100th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Liberia.
The Centennial Pavilion hosts inaugurations and farewells to deceased statesmen.

Story

Archaeological research shows that the territory of Liberia has been inhabited since about the 12th century.
From the middle of the 15th century. and until the end of the 17th century. Portuguese, Dutch and British traders had trading posts on the territory of modern Liberia. The Portuguese called this region Costa da Pimenta (Pepper Coast) due to the abundance of Melegetian pepper grains.
In 1822, Americans founded a colony of “free people of color” on the coast of modern Liberia. It operated under the auspices of the American Colonization Society. By agreement with the leaders of local tribes, the settlers acquired territories with an area of ​​more than 13 thousand km² for goods worth a total of 50 US dollars.
In 1824, this colony received the name Liberia, and its constitution was adopted. By 1828, settlers had captured the entire coast of modern Liberia, as well as parts of the coast of modern Sierra Leone and Cote d'Ivoire.
The independence of the Republic of Liberia was proclaimed on July 26, 1847. The settlers perceived the African continent, from where their ancestors were taken into slavery, as a “promised land.” But they behaved in a unique way: when they arrived in Africa, they called themselves Americans. This is how they were perceived by the residents of neighboring Sierra Leone. The symbols of their state (flag, motto and seal), the chosen form of government reflected the American past of the Americo-Liberians.
Mutual distrust and hostility between the “Americans” from the coast and the “natives” from the hinterland gave rise to the (quite successful) attempts throughout the history of the country by the Americo-Liberian minority to dominate the local blacks, whom they considered barbarians and inferior people.
The Liberian authorities faced three serious problems: territorial conflicts with neighboring colonial powers (Britain and France), hostilities between settlers and local residents and the threat of financial insolvency.

XX century

At the beginning of the First World War, Liberia declared its neutrality. She hoped to maintain trade relations with Germany, which accounted for more than half of Liberia's foreign trade turnover. But the Entente countries established a blockade of maritime trade routes, which deprived Liberia of its most important trading partner.
At the beginning of World War II, Liberia again declared neutrality, but its territory was used to transport American troops to North Africa. In 1944, Liberia officially declared war on Germany.
After World War II, Liberia, thanks to US loans, became a major exporter of rubber and iron ore.

Samuel Doe coup of 1980

On April 12, 1980, a coup d'etat took place in Liberia. The President of the Republic, William Tolbert, was killed, his comrades were executed, and power in the country was seized by Sergeant Samuel Doe, a representative of the Krahn tribe, who awarded himself the rank of general.
Samuel Canyon Doe, President of Liberia from 1980 to 1990

At first, the change of power was received positively by citizens, but then the ongoing economic recession led to a decline in his popularity and a series of unsuccessful attempts at military coups. Doe was killed by field commander Prince Johnson, and killed brutally, which was recorded on video.
And after all this, Johnson received the post of senator in the government of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in 2007, and in 2011 he even ran for the presidency of the country.

Civil wars 1989-2003

The large-scale conflict involved several factions divided along ethnic lines. At the first stage of the war, Charles Taylor's group was supported by neighboring states that were involved in the conflict: Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso and Cote d'Ivoire. Military operations were carried out with great cruelty, torture was used. The war resulted in the transfer of more than half a million refugees to neighboring countries. The result was the signing of a peace agreement and the election of the President of the Republic in 1997, which he won Charles Taylor.

Charles Taylor
Charles Taylor's opponents organized a rebel war and invaded Liberia several times from neighboring countries. In 2002, with the active help and support of Guinean President Lansana Conte, a major opposition movement, LURD, was created, which managed to overthrow Taylor and expel him from the country.
In 2003, Interpol issued an arrest warrant for Charles Taylor on charges of crimes against humanity and violations of the 1949 Geneva Convention. Nigeria agreed to hand him over to Liberia, but Taylor disappeared from the seaside villa of Calabar, Nigeria, where he was being held in exile. He was soon caught and transferred to the Hague Tribunal, which in 2012 found Charles Taylor guilty of 11 counts, including crimes against humanity, violations of the Geneva Convention and other international laws. He was sentenced to 50 years in prison.
November 23, 2005 former Minister of Finance of Liberia Ellen Johnson Sirleaf won the presidential elections in the country.

In the east are the Cameroon mountains, in the south and west are the waves of the Atlantic, where the westernmost point of Africa is located - Cape Almadi in Senegal. Such natural boundaries are outlined West Africa, which is conventionally divided into two regions: the arid Sahel adjacent to the desert and Sudan, which is more comfortable for living. This part of the continent is home to sixteen countries, the largest of which are Niger, Mali and Mauritania, and the smallest is Cape Verde (Cape Verde).

Features of climate, vegetation and animal world

The most difficult climatic conditions- in the northern Sahel, which is being taken over by desert year after year. The region is officially recognized as one of the hottest on the planet - in winter the temperature rarely drops below +20 °C, and in summer it confidently stays at +40 °C. At this time, all the vegetation here dies, and the herbivorous inhabitants of the savannah (mainly antelopes and gazelles) migrate south.

West African countries, located in the Sahel, periodically find themselves on the brink of disaster due to terrible droughts that can last up to five to six years. But in Sudan, agriculture is much better developed. In Togo, coffee, cocoa beans and cotton are grown and exported, in Gambia - peanuts and corn, in Mauritania - dates and rice.

Sudan receives much more rainfall than the Sahel - it is brought by the summer monsoons. In addition, many rivers flow here, so closer to the Atlantic the vegetation is more abundant (even lush tropical forests), and the animal world is much richer.

History and modernity

European colonialists were attracted to West Africa back in the 15th century - the British, Portuguese, and French created fortified outposts on the coast, imposing their conditions local tribes. Most states managed to completely free themselves from the tutelage of metropolises only in the second half of the last century.

As a legacy of such total dependence, the countries of West Africa received deep-rooted enmity with their neighbors, who were under the control of other European “patrons.” The region is famous for political instability - military coups, riots and civil wars are common here.

Western Africa is rich in mineral resources. Ghana is one of the leading suppliers of gold, Nigeria's budget is 80% dependent on oil trade, Sierra Leone produces diamonds, and Niger produces uranium. At the same time, only raw materials are supplied to the world market; the processing industry is underdeveloped. Almost all countries in the region are included in the list of the poorest countries on the planet with a very unfavorable epidemiological situation and a low level of healthcare.

List of West African countries

Living in big countries, not everyone and not always can travel to all corners of their homeland. However, there are states in the world where all the sights and interesting things can be seen in a day or two. So, we present the top 10 smallest states in the world.

1. Vatican
The Vatican is a closed city-state. It is located in one of the districts of Rome and covers an area of ​​44 hectares. It was founded in 1929 by the Roman Catholic Church, governed by the Pope and the conclave of cardinals, and has the status independent state and even your army. True, despite such a small territory, it is unlikely that it will be possible to explore it in one day - so many architectural, sculptural and pictorial masterpieces are collected in it. The Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, residence of the Pope - Apostolic Palace etc. - far from it full list masterpieces. Half of the country's territory is occupied by the Vatican Gardens. About 800 people are official citizens of the Vatican, and several thousand Italians commute here every day to work.

2. Monaco
Monaco is the second smallest country. Over the past 20 years, due to the draining of the sea, the area of ​​the country has increased and now it is 20.2 square meters. kilometer Monaco is a monarchical state, one of the most populous countries in the world and has 30 thousand inhabitants. The main income for residents comes from tourism.

3. Nauru
Nauru is located in the south Pacific Ocean in Micronesia. The area of ​​the state is 21.3 square meters. kilometer The Republic of Nauru is the smallest island state in the world. It gained independence in 1968, although the island was home to the Aboriginal people for 3 thousand years. Today the country's population is approximately 9 thousand people. The state of Nauru has no armed forces.

4. Tuvalu
Tuvalu is located in the South Pacific Ocean, its area is 26 square meters. kilometers. The country also includes several coral islands. Previously, these islands belonged to the British Crown and were called the Ellis Islands, but in 1978 they gained independence from the British. The country's population is 10.5 thousand people. Due to lack natural resources Tuvalu has to live off the help of other countries.

5. San Marino
The Republic of San Marino covers an area of ​​61 square meters. kilometer and has the smallest population among the member states of the European Council. Is in Southern Europe, surrounded on all sides by Italian territory. It is the oldest independent country in the world, founded on September 3, 301. In addition, San Marino is one of the richest countries in the world, its income exceeds its expenses.

6. Liechtenstein
The area of ​​the country is 160.4 square meters. kilometer Liechtenstein borders Switzerland and Austria and is landlocked. It is one of the richest states. There are more companies registered here than residents.

7. Marshall Islands
This state is located in the center of the Pacific Ocean and consists mainly of coral islands. The area of ​​the country is 181 square meters. kilometer, population 62 thousand. In 1986, the Islands gained independence from the United States, but the country has no natural resources and imports of goods far exceed exports, so until now only American assistance has helped them “keep afloat.”

8. Seychelles
Heaven on Earth Seychelles occupy an area of ​​455 square kilometers, population 84 thousand people. The archipelago is located in the Indian Ocean, north of Madagascar and consists of 115 islands. The islands managed to develop thanks to the export of coconut, vanilla and cinnamon. But since independence in 1976, tourism has become the main source of income.

9. Maldives
Republic of Maldives - island country. It is located in Indian Ocean and by area it is the smallest Asian country. The area of ​​the country is 298 square meters. km., population - 396 thousand. Two thirds of the population lives in the country's capital, Male. Previously the country developed thanks to the export of dried tuna, cowrie shellfish and coconut ropes, now the main income comes from tourism.

10. Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis
Located in the West Indies - between North and South America on the islands of the Atlantic Ocean. The state consists of two islands with total area 261 sq. km. These were the first islands settled by Europeans. The main source of income is tourism, agriculture and offshore banking are also developed.