[94] The National Police Training Academy is in Paynesville City. [149], Liberia has begun exploration for offshore oil; unproven oil reserves may be in excess of one billion barrels. As of October 2007 it has 844 officers in 33 stations in Montserrado County, which contains Monrovia. The oldest counties are Grand Bassa and Montserrado, both founded in 1839 prior to Liberian independence. [7], In 1822, the American Colonization Society began sending free people of color to the Pepper Coast voluntarily to establish a colony. [68], Liberia's watershed tends to move in a southwestern pattern towards the sea as new rains move down the forested plateau off the inland mountain range of Guine Forestire, in Guinea. [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). [16] Shortly after the Mane conquered the region, the Vai people of the former Mali Empire immigrated into the Grand Cape Mount County region. [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 ethnic Kru opposed the influx of Vai, forming an alliance with the Mane to stop further influx of Vai.[17]. [95] A history of corruption among police officers diminishes public trust and operational effectiveness. [150] The government divided its offshore waters into 17 blocks and began auctioning off exploration licenses for the blocks in 2004, with further auctions in 2007 and 2009. [202] Most Americo-Liberian men were members of the Masonic Order of Liberia, which became heavily involved in the nation's politics. [216] However, this change has been gradual, with government reports concurrently using both United States Customary and metric units. Justification of Outstanding Universal Value. 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. Providence Island - UNESCO World Heritage Centre [168], Muslims comprised 12.2% of the population in 2008, largely represented by the Mandingo and Vai ethnic groups. The climate is equatorial, with significant rainfall during the MayOctober rainy season and harsh harmattan winds the remainder of the year. "Monrovia's 'Never-Ending' Pollution Issues In 2013, Edwin M. Fayia III, "IDA Liberia: Digging Out Monrovia from the Waste of War", "2008 National Population and Housing Census: Preliminary Results", "The Model City Statute for the Liberian City", "Liberia: Police Corruption Harms Rights, Progress", http://www.odi.org/publications/8464-rape-weapon-war-liberia, "State Sponsored Homophobia 2016: A world survey of sexual orientation laws: criminalisation, protection and recognition", International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, "71 Countries Where Homosexuality is Illegal", "GDP per capita (current US$) |Data |Graph", "The Challenges of Post-War Reconstruction the Liberian Experience", "Report for Selected Countries and Subjects: Liberia", "Liberian President: Government and People are Partners in Progress", "Quarter Three Fiscal Outturn, Fiscal Year 2010/11", "Second Quarter 2010/2011 Public Debt Management Report", "Government Announces Agreement with Chevron to Explore Liberian Waters", "Palm oil industry accused of land grabs in Liberia", "Firestone and Liberia Company History", "Liberia | Agriculture and Food Security | U.S. Agency for International Development", "Agriculture - Liberia - export, area, crops, annual, farming, system", "LIBERIA COMPREHENSIVE FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION SURVEY (CFSNS) JUNE 2013", "Liberia Agriculture Sheet - Open Data for Liberia", "Rice Production Booms in Southeast Liberia", "Liberia - Agriculture and Food Security", "Quick-Action Helps Maintain Key Mining Industries during Ebola Outbreak", "Coordinating Mining Conservation Efforts in Liberia", "PPIAF Supports Telecommunications Reform and Liberalization in Liberia", "Introduction to Communication and Development in Liberia", "Transport in Liberia: How to Get Around Safely", "Options for the Development of Liberia's Energy Sector", "Behind The Power Switch in Nimba, An optimism for Vibrant Economy", "Liberia may have over 1 bln barrels in oil resources", "NOCAL 2004 Liberia Offshore Bid Round Announcement", "Liberia Opens Bidding for 10 Offshore Oil Blocks", "Third Liberian Offshore Petroleum Licensing Round 2009", "Liberia marks out new oil blocks, auction seen soon", "Chevron, Liberia Sign Deepwater Offshore Exploration Agreement", "World Population Prospects Population Division United Nations", "2008 National Population and Housing Census Final Results: Population by County", United Nations World Population Prospects: 2006 revision, "Liberia's Ugly Past: Re-writing Liberian History", "The Constitution of the Republic of Liberia Chapter IV: Citizenship", "Liberia: Ma Ellen talk plenty plenty Liberian English", "2008 Population and Housing Census: Final Results", "International Religious Freedom Report 2010: Liberia", "Making Quality Education Affordable And Assessable To All Prez. 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. Outsiders' knowledge of the west of Africa began with a Portuguese sailor, Pedro de Sintra, who reached the Liberian coast in 1461. The Cavalla is the longest river in the nation at 320 mi (515 km). Liberia currently does not have any constitutional framework or uniform statutes which deal with the creation or revocation of local governments. Tbg and its vector Glossina palpalis gambiense are a constant presence in the rainforests here. 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. Crane, Keith; Gompert, David C; Oliker, Olga; Riley, Kevin Jack; and Lawson, Brooke Stearns. Name the major rivers of Liberia. pp. [13] A peace agreement in 2003 led to democratic elections in 2005. [112] The global financial crisis slowed GDP growth to 4.6% in 2009,[112] though a strengthening agricultural sector led by rubber and timber exports increased growth to 5.1% in 2010 and an expected 7.3% in 2011, making the economy one of the 20 fastest-growing in the world. The government does not require businesses or schools to excuse Muslims for Friday prayers. Representative of Liberia to the United Nations, 198185. A map of Liberia's major rivers and their drainage systems This is a list of rivers in Liberia . [43], After Liberia adopted a new constitution in 1985, Doe was elected president in subsequent elections that were internationally condemned as fraudulent. Later Stone Age (LSA) populations evidence significant technological diversification, including both microlithic and macrolithic traditions. Infertile regosols, or sandy soils, are found along the coastal plains. Other major rivers are the Lofa in the north and, moving southward, the St. Paul, St. John, and Cestos, all of which parallel each other and flow perpendicular to the coast. [143], Public electricity services are provided solely by the state-owned Liberia Electricity Corporation, which operates a small grid almost exclusively in the Greater Monrovia District. Retrieved October 29, 2013, Marc DuBois and Caitlin Wake, with Scarlett Sturridge and Christina Bennett (2015). A peace deal was signed later that month. [44], The National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL), a rebel group led by Charles Taylor, launched an insurrection in December 1989 against Doe's government with the backing of neighboring countries such as Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast. [79] The survey was conducted during the last civil war, and bushmeat consumption is now believed to be far higher. Subsequent Portuguese explorers named Grand Cape Mount, Cape Mesurado (Montserrado), and Cape Palmas, all . [93], The Liberian National Police is the country's national police force. There was a decline in production of Liberian goods in the late 19th century, and the government struggled financially, resulting in indebtedness on a series of international loans. 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; . The 16 officially recognized ethnic groups include the Kpelle, Bassa, Mano, Gio or Dan, Kru, Grebo, Krahn, Vai, Gola, Mandingo or Mandinka, Mende, Kissi, Gbandi, Loma, Dei or Dewoin, Belleh, and Americo-Liberians or Congo people (so named because many immigrants including those freed from slave ships arrived from ports at the mouth of the Congo River). [195] In 2009, government expenditure on health care per capita was US$22,[196] accounting for 10.6% of total GDP. The population is composed . [83] A 2004 UN report estimated that 99% of Liberians burned charcoal and fuel wood for cooking and heating, resulting in deforestation. [173], In 2009, Tubman University in Harper, Maryland County was established as the second public university in Liberia. It is a region suitable for agriculture and forestry. [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. The presence of MSA populations in forests remains an open question; however technological differences may correlate with various ecological zones. A small minority of Liberians who are White Africans of European descent reside in the country. [80], The Desert Locust (Schistocerca gregaria) is a constant presence here. [citation needed], The government of Liberia, modeled on the government of the United States, is a unitary constitutional republic and representative democracy as established by the Constitution. and an interim government took power the following October. Milestones: 1830-1860 - Office of the Historian As observed on Liberia's physical map, the elevation of the land gradually increases with distance from the coast. During the rainy season there is often severe flooding in the coastal plains. King and Vice President Allen N. Yancy resigned. Sapo National Park, established in 1983 in the countrys southeast, was expanded in 2003 to encompass an area of some 700 square miles (1,800 square km). 2278117. - 13488122 [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. [56] It lies between latitudes 4 and 9N, and longitudes 7 and 12W. 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. Category:Islands of Liberia - Wikipedia 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. [168] While separation of church and state is mandated by the Constitution, Liberia is considered a Christian state in practice. It was founded during the administration of U.S. Pres. Pages in category "Islands of Liberia" The following 2 pages are in this category, out of 2 total. The presence of Oldowan Earlier Stone Age (earliest ESA) artifacts in West Africa has been confirmed by Michael Omolewa, attesting to the presence of ancient humans. They are low and sandy, with miles of beaches interspersed with bar-enclosed lagoons, mangrove swamps, and a few rocky promontoriesthe highest being Cape Mount (about 1,000 feet [305 metres] in elevation) in the northwest, Cape Mesurado in Monrovia, and Cape Palmas in the southeast. Map of the world's second-largest and second-most-populous continent, located on the African continental plate. A striking feature of the mountainous northern highlands along the Guinea frontier is Mount Nimba. [25], On July 26, 1847, the settlers issued a Declaration of Independence and promulgated a constitution. 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 [210] Liberia also has a tradition of baking imported from the United States that is unique in West Africa.[211]. 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. Liberia possesses about forty percent of the remaining Upper Guinean rainforest. [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. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Monrovia, capital, largest city, and chief Atlantic port of Liberia, located on Bushrod Island and Cape Mesurado. [citation needed] It was made up primarily of Americo-Liberians, who maintained social, economic and political dominance well into the 20th century, repeating patterns of European colonists in other nations in Africa. Hemispheres: Northern and Eastern. Liberia is an independent state that is situated in West Africa. [133] This was dismissed as a "misconception" by Liberia's Minister of Agriculture. Adventist University of West Africa, a post-secondary learning environment that is situated in Margibi County, on the Roberts International Airport. The coastal plains are about 350 miles (560 km) long and extend up to 25 miles (40 km) inland. [194], Approximately 95% of the country's healthcare facilities had been destroyed by the time civil war ended in 2003. [citation needed] Liberia struggled to attract investment to develop infrastructure and a larger, industrial economy. [67] Weah cited fighting corruption, reforming the economy, combating illiteracy, and improving living conditions as the main targets of his presidency.[67]. [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. [42], On April 12, 1980, a military coup led by Master Sergeant Samuel Doe of the Krahn ethnic group overthrew and killed President William R. Tolbert Jr. Doe and the other plotters later executed a majority of Tolbert's cabinet and other Americo-Liberian government officials and True Whig Party members. 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. [62] In November 2011, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was re-elected for a second six-year term. [77], Bushmeat is widely eaten in Liberia, and is considered a delicacy. [22] These free African Americans and their descendants married within their community and came to identify as Americo-Liberians. Sirleaf's Vision With Passion", "Notes, Presented by Professor and Dean of the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law, University of Liberia, David A. Highly fertile alluvial soils represent a small percentage of the land area and are utilized largely for agriculture. [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. [80] The West African pariah dog is also a host for Tbg. There are many reptiles, including three types of crocodiles and at least eight poisonous snakes. The Liberian national basketball team has reached the AfroBasket twice, in 1983 and 2007. (April 2014). [118] The country acted as a major trader in Sierra Leonian blood diamonds, exporting over US$300 million in diamonds in 1999. This discussion focuses on Liberia from the 19th century. [51] [199] In early August 2014 Guinea closed its borders to Liberia to help contain the spread of the virus, as more new cases were being reported in Liberia than in Guinea. 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. Taylor resigned in August 2003 and went into exile in Nigeria. [97], Both male and female homosexuality are illegal in Liberia. [175][176][177], Due to student protests late in October 2018, newly elected president George M. Weah abolished tuition fees for undergraduate students in the public universities in Liberia.[178]. The dusty and dry harmattan (desert winds) blow from the Sahara to the coast in December, bringing relief from the high relative humidity. 2 Robin Dunn-Marcos et al., "Liberians: An Introduction to Their History Culture," Culture Profile No. [209] Heavy stews spiced with habanero and scotch bonnet chilies are popular and eaten with fufu. [86] Montserrado is also the most populous county with 1,144,806 residents as of the 2008 census. The subsequent 2005 elections were internationally regarded as the freest and fairest in Liberian history. [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. [164], According to the 2008 National Census, 85.6% of the population practiced Christianity, while Muslims represented a minority of 12.2%. Congo people, descendants of repatriated Congo and Afro-Caribbean slaves who arrived in 1825, make up an estimated 2.5%. Today it has six colleges, including a medical school and the nation's only law school, Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law. Liberia declared independence on July 26, 1847, which the U.S. did not recognize until February 5, 1862. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. [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. Adolescent girls are the most frequently assaulted, and almost 40% of perpetrators are adult men known to victims. [140], There are six major newspapers in Liberia, and 65% of the population has a mobile phone service. Updates? Both Sierra Leone and the Ivory Coast annexed territories. Liberia | History, Map, Flag, Population, & Facts | Britannica Liberian Muslims are divided between Sunnis, Shias, Ahmadiyyas, Sufis, and non-denominational Muslims.[169]. However, hunter-gatherers have survived in the more forested parts of West Africa until much later, attesting to the strength of ecological boundaries in this region. [26][27] On August 24, Liberia adopted its 11-striped national flag. [204], A rich literary tradition has existed in Liberia for over a century. [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). The Liberian constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the government generally respects this right. 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. 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. 1820 to 1847 | History Of Liberia: A Time Line | Articles and Essays St. Clements University College (Liberia), a private higher education institution that was founded in 2008. The country's capital and largest city is Monrovia. [148] In 2013, Liberia began importing power from neighboring Ivory Coast and Guinea through the West African Power Pool. Minority ethnic groups especially were exploited in a system that enriched well-connected elites. [44] Government repression intensified in response, as Doe's troops retaliated by executing members of the Gio and Mano ethnic groups in Nimba County. Mortality from tropical diseases was highof the 4,571 emigrants who arrived in Liberia between 1820 and 1843, only 1,819 survived. [60] In 2011, July 26 was proclaimed by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to be observed as National Independence Day. Commerce is prohibited by law on Sunday and major Christian holidays. [63], Following the 2017 Liberian general election, former professional football striker George Weah, one of the greatest African players of all time,[64][65] was sworn in as president on January 22, 2018, becoming the fourth youngest serving president in Africa. [57] The 2005 elections marked the first time that the president's party did not gain a majority of seats in the Legislature. Starz University, is a private higher education institution that was established in the United States in 2007, and became incorporated in Monrovia, 2009; with the objective of addressing the Information Technology(IT) need of Liberia. [bettersourceneeded][1], English is the official language and serves as the lingua franca of Liberia. 15 Best Places to Visit in Liberia - The Crazy Tourist [79], Trypanosoma brucei gambiense is endemic in some animal hosts here including both domestic and wild. Additional rivers of note are the Lofa, St. Paul, St. John and Cestos River, all of which flow into theAtlantic. [citation needed], Liberia has a rich history in textile arts and quilting, as the settlers brought with them their sewing and quilting skills. Mande-speaking people expanded from the north and east, forcing many smaller ethnic groups southward toward the Atlantic Ocean. [68] Climate change in Liberia causes many problems as Liberia is particularly vulnerable to climate change. 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. [198] As of November17, 2014[update], there were 2,812 confirmed deaths from the ongoing outbreak. 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. The Economic Community Monitoring Group under the Economic Community of West African States organized a military task force to intervene in the crisis. Bushrod Island is an island near Monrovia, Liberia surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, . 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. This was because they faced racial discrimination in the form of political disenfranchisement and the denial of civil, religious, and social rights. [73] Four terrestrial ecoregions lie within Liberia's borders: Guinean montane forests, Western Guinean lowland forests, Guinean forestsavanna mosaic, and Guinean mangroves. This page was last updated on February 24, 2021, All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions 2023 worldatlas.com. United Methodist University, a private Christian university located in Liberia, West Africa, it is commonly known amongst locals as UMU. Professor of Geography, East Carolina College, Greenville, North Carolina. [112] Liberia's external debt was estimated in 2006 at approximately $4.5 billion, 800% of GDP. [125] Palm oil companies like Sime Darby (Malaysia) and Golden Veroleum (USA) have been accused of destroying livelihoods and displacing local communities, enabled by government concessions. Founding of Liberia, 1847 The founding of Liberia in the early 1800s was motivated by the domestic politics of slavery and race in the United States as well as by U.S. foreign policy interests. Quiz, Central Intelligence Agency - The World Factbook - Liberia, Liberia - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Liberia - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). The all-female Sande society practices female circumcision. [54], The United Nations Mission in Liberia began arriving in September 2003 to provide security and monitor the peace accord,[55] GeoNames ID. The Greater Monrovia District has 970,824 residents. Give their locations, and length in miles. [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. Map of Africa - Countries of Africa - Nations Online Project Please select which sections you would like to print: Professor and Chairman, Department of History, University of Liberia, Monrovia. [159] The population of Liberia was 1,016,443 in 1962 and increased to 1,503,368 in 1974. The three countries of Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Ivory Coast bound Liberia to the northwest, north, and east respectively. 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.

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