What continent is sierra leone on. The main attractions of sierra leone
one of the richest and interesting countries West Africa is a hot maritime state called Sierra Leone. Most tourists are attracted by the velvety and cleanliness of the local beaches, which are famous for their beauty and exoticism.
Sierra Leone on world map
The sunny Republic of Sierra Leone is located in the western part of the African
along a luxurious coastline Atlantic Ocean. The country occupies a fairly small area of about 72 thousand square kilometers. On land, it is adjacent to Liberia and Guinea, and on the southeastern side of its land, it is washed by the waters of the aforementioned Atlantic.
Republic of Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone was a colonial possession of the Kingdom for many years until the country gained its long-awaited independence in 1961. That is why it is not surprising that the distinct influence of British society can still be seen in Sierra Leone. So it is English that has the status of the state language in this West African state. In total, about 5.4 million people live in the country. More than half of them profess Islam, about 30 percent believe in traditional religions, and only a tenth of the population is Christian. Among tourists, cities called Kenema, Bo and Freetown, which is also the capital of Sierra Leone, are especially popular.
A huge flat lowland stretches along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, on the territory of which most of the country's population lives. It is in this area that thrives Agriculture. Flat lands gently descend towards the oceans. The northeastern part of Sierra Leone belongs to the large Leono-Liberian mountain range, characterized by high-altitude relief. The average height of the hills of the massif does not exceed 600 meters. However, the high-altitude maximum of the state, called the mountain peak of Bintimani, has 1945 meters above sea level. The mountainous terrain is also characteristic of the northern regions of Sierra Leone, where the hills called Phuta Jallon stretch.
In addition to the impressive reserves of salty sea water that surround the republic, Sierra Leone also boasts a dense and well-developed river network. the main role belongs to the rivers called Kaba, Jong, Colente, Roquel, Macona, Seva, Moa and Mabole. Some of them are also navigable river arteries. The smooth coastline is literally streaked with picturesque harbors and bays. The most popular among them is the capital's port called Freetown.
A natural feature of the republic can be considered dense mangroves that stretch parallel to the coastal strip. However, tall-grass savannas with proud bizarre baobabs are considered more common for Sierra Leone. In addition, humid equatorial forests grow on the eastern mountain slopes and southern expanses of the republic. They own about five percent of the total area of the state. Also, for the territory of Sierra Leone, coconut and oil palms are characteristic, which grow on the territory of the coastal strip. It is also worth mentioning black, cotton and the legendary rosewood.
The fauna of Sierra Leone impresses with its diversity; birds have become especially widespread here. Large mammals include zebras, elephants, buffaloes and antelopes, which are hunted by local leopards and hyenas. No less common are porcupines, wild boars and chimpanzees. For those who are interested in endemic species, it will certainly be interesting to walk through the forests and natural parks of Sierra Leone, where you can meet amazing manatees and pygmy hippos. Not far from the local rivers, formidable clumsy crocodiles and pretty hippos also settle.
National Flag of Sierra Leone
The main national symbol of the Republic of Sierra Leone is a three-color rectangular panel. The color scheme of the national flag is represented by equal horizontal stripes of light green, snow-white and saturated of blue color. Each of them carries a deep symbolic meaning. The green strip represents the fertile lands of Sierra Leone, which allow the local population to be very successful in agriculture, as well as other natural resources of the republic: the sea, mountains and flowering forests.
Basic moments
Most of territory of the country - an undulating plain, gradually lowering to the south-west. The plain is cut through by numerous full-flowing rivers Kaba, Rokelle, Seva and others. The ocean coast is low, sandy, in the north it is heavily indented by estuaries that serve as convenient natural harbors (especially the mouth of the Rockelle River, where the Freetown harbor is located - the best in West Africa). The entire northeast is occupied by the Leono-Liberian Upland ( highest point- Mount Bintimani, 1948 m) and spurs of the Futa-Jallon highlands. The combination of mountains, plains, rivers and sandy coasts gives a unique identity to the nature of Sierra Leone.
The climate of the country is subequatorial. Average monthly temperatures on the coast range from 24°C (August) to 27°C (April), while inland it is cooler (20–21°C). Precipitation falls mainly in summer (from May to September): up to 4500 mm on the coast and 2000–2500 mm in inland areas. The country is considered one of the rainiest in West Africa. About half of the territory of Sierra Leone is occupied by tall grass savannas, where leopards, hyenas, antelopes, zebras live, elephants and buffaloes are found. On the eastern slopes of the mountains and in the south of the country, areas of moist equatorial forests have been preserved; on some rivers there are rare pygmy hippos, and in their mouths there is an endangered marine mammal manatee. Mangrove forests are found along the coast of the ocean in the intertidal zone. On the Freetown peninsula, where low mountains covered with palm trees approach the ocean, lagoons with rich near-water vegetation are especially picturesque.
The indigenous population of the country (total number - 7,092,113 people in 2015) consists of 17 nationalities and tribes, the most numerous of which are Mende and Temne, engaged in agriculture. More than half of believers adhere to traditional beliefs, about 30% profess Islam, the rest are Christians. Traditional crafts, examples of oral (legends, fairy tales) and material culture (especially wooden ritual masks) of the peoples of Sierra Leone are widely known throughout the world. The capital of the country - Freetown (about 951 thousand inhabitants), is one of the oldest cities in West Africa, founded in 1792. The city center is built up with two- and three-story houses in the style of English cities of the 19th century. Founded in 1827, located here university college Fourah Bay and the National Museum.
culture
There are several types of traditional dwellings among local peoples. Among the Gola, Susu and other peoples, dwellings are round in shape, with a diameter of 6 to 10 m. The roof is high, cone-shaped. The material for the buildings are mainly bamboo and palm leaves. The dwellings of the Temne, Limba, Mende, etc. peoples are rectangular in plan, built on a frame of logs, a gable roof is laid from palm leaves. The roofs of the Temne and Mende huts are quite low. The houses of the Limba people often have a veranda. The Sherbro people build their huts on stilts.
In the capital, houses built in the colonial style have been preserved. A special type of architecture is the construction of mosques. In modern cities, houses are built of brick and reinforced concrete structures.
Fine arts and crafts have centuries-old traditions. 15th–16th century dated stone female statuettes nomoli (differ in the correct proportions), made by masters of the Temne and Sherbro peoples. In Sherbro sculpture by the 17th century. a special style developed, called "Afro-Portuguese". Ivory items made in this style (cone-shaped vessels with a lid, located on a base in the shape of a hemisphere) are distinguished by the complexity of the composition and the abundance of decoration elements. The most common elements are skillfully carved human figures with clearly executed details (facial features, costume items). In foreign museums, approx. 30 samples of such compositions.
The ritual wooden masks of the secret women's societies of Sande and Bundu (among the Mende and Temne peoples) are distinguished by their originality. The masks depict a face with small features along with a thick neck due to wearing jewelry, they are made from a single piece of wood and painted black. Often such masks served as decoration for the thrones and wands of the supreme leaders. Round sculpture - multi-colored, with clearly traced details.
Professional art began to develop after independence. Famous artists - Miranda Buny Nicole (Olainka), John Vandi, Indris Koroma, Celestina Labor-Blake, Hassan Bangura. The works of the portrait painter Fosbe A. Jones were repeatedly exhibited abroad. Sculptors - Paul M. Caramo and others.
Of the crafts and arts and crafts, pottery, wood carving (manufacturing of masks and sculptural images, combs, richly ornamented boards, etc.) and ivory, weaving, batik and weaving of various household items (baskets, mats) from palm leaves and straw.
A collection of African traditional and contemporary art is presented at the National Museum, which is located in the capital. The University of Sierra Leone has a Faculty of Arts.
Literature based on rich traditions oral art(myths, songs, proverbs and fairy tales) of local peoples. Recordings of the folklore of the peoples of Sierra Leone were made in the beginning. 1920s (in 1928, the collection Mandingo Songs was published in Freetown). The formation of written literature began in the middle of the 19th century. in the Krio and Vai languages. The founders of prose in the genre of journalism in the 19th century. were E. Blyden, historian James Africanus Horton, Ian Joseph Claudis and others. literary work is a short story by Mist Kafirer by the writer Adelaide Smith Caseley-Hayford, published in 1911. The first Sierra Leonean novel, The Boy from Cosso by Robert Velez Kole, was published in 1957.
The modern literature of Sierra Leone is developing in English and the local languages of Krio, Mende, etc. A significant place in the literature of Sierra Leone belongs to the writer, poet, essayist and literary critic Nicole Abiose Davidson Willoughby. Widely known writers in the country are William Conton (author of the famous novel The African, published in 1960), Clifford Nelson Fail, Raymond Sarif Ismon, Ofori Ofia, E. Rowe, Peter Karef-Smarta, Sorie Conte, Amadou (Pat) Maddi, Karame Sonko and others.
The formation of national poetry began in the 1930s. Some of the first poets were Gladys May Caseley-Heyford and T.A. Wallace-Johnson. Sierra Leonean poet Cyril Cheney-Coker literary critics rank among the most outstanding poets of Africa at the end of the 20th century. His poems were translated into Russian and published in the USSR. Other poets are Gaston Bart-Williams, Wilfred C. Taylor, Delphine King-Sesay, J. Pepper-Clark, Raymond G. de Souza, B.B. Jaba, Ofori Domenik, Jibasi Buba, B.D. Harri, Mustafa Muktar and others.
A national dramaturgy began to take shape in Creole in the 1950s. The first playwrights were Clifford Garber, Sylvester Rowe, John Kargbo, Eric Hassan Dean, Johnson Lemuel. Major playwrights - John Joseph Akar, Sarif Ismon, Amadou (Pat) Maddy, Raymon D. Charlie.
National music has ancient traditions, formed on the basis of the music of local peoples. Musical culture has been significantly influenced by the musical traditions of immigrants from Europe (Great Britain, USA, Brazil) and Arabic music (primarily in Sunni rituals). In the second half of the 20th century influenced by American pop music, new styles appeared and spread widely.
game on musical instruments, songs and dances are closely related to everyday life local peoples. It is distinguished by a variety of musical instruments (more than 50 items) - drums (bote, kangbai, n "kali, sangbai, tomtams, huban, hutambu), balangs and chorde (drums), kongoma and faa (noise), bark and kondings (strings), koningei (musical bow), shengbure (stringed), kondi (plucked), etc. Singing is well developed, both solo and ensemble.Songs are distinguished by a variety of genres - ritual, laudatory, lyrical, etc. Singing is often accompanied by a characteristic recitative Unison singing is common in rituals.Various rituals are a harmonious combination of music and theatrical songs-dances (for example, songs-dances of masks).
The formation of professional musical art in Sierra Leone began in the 1920s and is associated with the name of Nicholas Balant Taylor, who wrote several operas and concert overtures. In 1934, the composer Dafar wrote a musical drama called Kinkurkor. After independence, numerous musical ensembles and dance groups were created in the country. In 1971, the artists of the National Ensemble of Sierra Leone (established famous figure culture D. Akar in 1965) successfully performed on tour in the USSR. The Sierra Leonean rock groups Afronational, Goldfaza and others have gained international fame. Famous modern singers are Tongo Kanu, Kamari Jiba Tarawali, Pa Kontoba and others.
Modern national theatrical art is formed on the basis of rich traditional creativity. The work of the griots had a significant influence on him ( common name professional storytellers and musicians-singers in West Africa) who staged improvisational performances during the holidays. The first English amateur theater groups emerged during the colonial period.
african amateur theater groups created in the 1950s. In 1958, playwright, actor, and director John Joseph Acar formed the Actors of Sierra Leone troupe. In 1963 the amateur drama societies educational institutions merged into the National Theater League. In the 1960s, the first opera group was created in Freetown. The formation of a professional national theater began with the creation by the playwright Raymond Dele Charli of the experimental Tabule Theater in the beginning. 1970s Most productions in the theater were performed in the Krio language.
Story
The first Portuguese navigators back in the 15th century. discovered the peninsula, which they called Sierra Leone (translated as "Lion Mountains"). This name then spread to the whole country. The birth of the colony itself dates back to 1788, when the local leader Nyambana ceded part of his territory to the captain of the English Royal Navy, John Taylor, who acted on behalf of "a community of free settlers, their heirs and successors, recently arrived from England and under the protection of the British government" . The said community consisted of 400 poor blacks and 60 women from England, who had settled here a year earlier. Black settlers were freed slaves who fought for the British during the American Revolution and runaway slaves who found refuge in Britain. The settlement was named Freetown ("city of the free"). The site of the first settlement proved unsuccessful, and in 1791 the Sierra Leone Company, under the leadership of Henry Thornton, assisted by Granville Sharp and William Wilberforce, founded a new settlement near the first. In 1792, a group of 1,100 freed slaves arrived from Nova Scotia. In 1800 they were joined by runaway slaves from Jamaica. After the slave trade was banned by Great Britain in 1807 and slaves were freed from captured slave ships that continued to transport "black goods", the number of settlers increased significantly. Gradually, almost the entire territory of the Sierra Leone peninsula was purchased from local rulers - King Tom and King Farima, and in 1808 the settlement was declared a colony of the British crown. In 1825, the area of the colony increased primarily due to the annexation of the entire Sherbro region. Through Edward Blyden's negotiations with the chiefs, British influence extended into the hinterland of present-day Sierra Leone. After the clash between the British and French troops, when each side mistook the other for the detachments of the Muslim leader Samori, the border between the British and French possessions was determined, and in 1896 Great Britain declared the interior of Sierra Leone to be its protectorate. The housing tax imposed by the new English administration in 1898 provoked a rebellion by the Temne and Mende peoples. After that, a civil administration was introduced in the protectorate and missionary societies resumed their work. Most active manifested the Church Missionary Society, which extended its influence to the hinterland from the centers created on the coast as early as the beginning of the 19th century.
Although the political traditions of the Creole population of the colony date back to the early 19th century, national politics as such did not emerge until the 1950s. She focused on two issues: the fear of the Creoles that the larger population of the Protectorate might dominate the life of Sierra Leone, and the struggle against British colonial rule. In April-May 1960, at a conference in London, which was attended by representatives of the British government and all political parties in Sierra Leone, an agreement was reached on a series of constitutional reforms. Their implementation led to the declaration of independence of Sierra Leone on April 27, 1961. After the All People's Congress (AP) won the general election in 1967, its leader Siaka Stevens replaced Margai as prime minister. The next elections on a multi-party basis took place only in 1996.
The reign of S. Stevens was characterized by political intolerance and the repeated introduction of a state of emergency in the country. This continued until 1978, when the leader of the VK proclaimed the creation of a one-party state in the country. In 1985, S. Stevens resigned, handing over the reins of government to Major General Joseph Said Momo, who introduced an authoritarian regime and remained in power until 1992, when a group of young officers led by Captain Valentine Melvin Strasser carried out a military coup. .
By this time, the civil war in Liberia had spread to the territory of Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone was plunged into its own civil war, in which one of the warring parties were rebels from the Revolutionary United Front. Under the leadership of Corporal F. Sanko trained in Libya and Liberia, they attacked cities and state facilities, and in 1995 they began fighting around Freetown. To some extent, the fact that in order to train and assist regular units helped to deter the rebels national army Strasser's government used the services of a South African firm specializing in the supply of mercenaries.
In 1995, amid total chaos and reports of widespread famine in the country, Strasser was forced to call elections and allow various political parties to participate in the election campaign. Election preparations were in full swing when, in early 1996, a group of officers led by Strasser's deputy, Brigadier General Julius Maado Biot, staged a military coup.
The civil war was still in full swing when the citizens of Sierra Leone went to the polls in February 1996. By this time the country was in a state of agony. Nevertheless, the elections took place. The first round of elections, which were predominantly held in cities due to the complexity of the military situation in rural areas, revealed two winners: Ahmad Tijan Kabbah, leader of the Sierra Leone People's Party (36%) and John Caref-Smart, leader of the United National People's Party ( 23%). The second round of rivalry for the presidency brought victory to Kabbah. The Revolutionary Popular Front (RNF) boycotted these elections.
In November 1996, Kabbah and Sankoh concluded a peace agreement, but after the arrest of the latter in Nigeria in early 1997 on charges of illegal arms trafficking, the agreement became invalid. In May 1997, a new military coup took place in Sierra Leone. Then a group of junior officers, led by Major Johnny Paul Koroma, who created the Revolutionary Council of the Armed Forces (AFRC), took power into their own hands. At the end of the same year, the AFRC agreed to a cessation of hostilities and the development of peace agreements, but he himself violated a number of important agreements.
At the beginning of 1998, the Ceasefire Monitoring Group of the Economic Community of West African States intervened. The predominantly Nigerian peacekeepers ousted Koroma from power and forced his supporters out of the capital. Returning from exile, Kabbah took the presidency. In response, the AFRC decided to join forces with the RNF and launch a campaign of terror against the civilian population.
On January 16, 1999, the United Revolutionary Front (RUF, some areas of the country were under its control), launched an insurgent war against the government, captured the eastern part of Freetown. Four days later, the capital was liberated by ECOMOG units (Peacekeeping Forces of West African States). As a result of lengthy negotiations, on May 18, 1999, in Lome (Togo), President Kabbah and Sankoh (the leader of the RUF) signed an agreement on a ceasefire from May 24, 1999 and the subsequent division of power. The rebel group, however, violated the peace agreement, and on October 22 of the same year, the UN Security Council decided to send a military contingent (6 thousand people) into the country to maintain peace in the country. The actions of the rebels with renewed vigor intensified in the beginning. 2000: There were armed attacks against settlements, captured c. 500 peacekeepers. By spring, the RUF controlled almost half of the country. The stubborn resistance of the rebels forced the UN Security Council to increase the number of military contingents to 11 thousand people. After being arrested by the Sanko authorities, the RUF was led by General Issa Sisei.
A new ceasefire agreement was signed in November 2000 under pressure from the UN and the UK. To a large extent, this was also facilitated by the adoption by the UN of a ban on the trade in African diamonds (the RUF smuggled diamonds from Sierra Leone). The disarmament of the RUF detachments continued until January 2002. As a result of the civil war, which lasted 11 years, from 50 to 200 thousand people died, according to various sources, and the infrastructure was almost completely destroyed.
On May 14, 2002, in the presence of UN peacekeeping forces, general elections were held on a multi-party basis. Out of nine candidates, Kabbah won the presidential election with 70.1% of the vote. In the parliamentary elections, the Sierra Leone People's Party won a landslide victory, winning 83 (out of 124) seats. The All People's Congress Party won 27 seats.
In 2002, the growth of inflation was 1%. GDP - 4.92 billion US dollars, its annual growth - 6.3%. The unemployment rate is 60%. (Data 2005). The main financial donors are the UK, USA, Germany, France and Japan. Assistance to the country is also provided by the European Union, the World Bank (WB), Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and China. Sierra Leone's external debt is $1.5 billion.
In January 2003, the authorities thwarted a plot to destabilize the country. In March 2005, the UN International War Crimes Tribunal for Sierra Leone began operating in Freetown (the first case in world practice when cases of war crimes are tried at the scene of their commission). The last changes in the composition of the government were made on September 6, 2005. In March 2006, a meeting of the tribunal took place, which considered the case of the former president of Liberia, Charles Taylor, who supported the Sierra Leonean rebels.
Economy
Sierra Leone is one of the ten poorest countries in the world. The basis of the economy is agriculture. As a result of the civil war that has been going on since the late 1990s, the agricultural sector and the mining industry have declined. 70% of the population is below the poverty line.
The share of the agricultural sector in GDP is 49%, it employs approx. 1.05 million economically active population (2001). 7.95% of the land is cultivated (2005). The main food crops are peanuts, sweet potatoes, legumes, cassava, corn, tomatoes, millet, rice, sorghum and taro. They also grow mangoes and citrus fruits. Cash crops are cocoa beans, coffee and oil palm. The development of animal husbandry makes it difficult for the spread of tsetse flies in most of the territory. Timber harvesting is underway. River and sea fishing is developing (catch of sardinella, tuna, crustaceans, mollusks, etc. - 74.7 thousand tons in 2001). Fishery products are partially exported. The country's economy is damaged by poaching fish in coastal waters by foreign ships and smuggling of diamonds.
Share in GDP - 31% (2001). It is poorly developed, the basis is the mining industry (mining of diamonds, bauxite, gold and rutile). The mining industry is the main source of foreign exchange earnings. During the civil war, many industrial enterprises were destroyed or looted. The manufacturing industry is represented by small factories and plants for processing agricultural products (production of peanut and palm oil, flour, beer). There are oil refineries and woodworking enterprises. Handicraft production of consumer goods is developing.
The volume of imports largely exceeds the volume of exports: in 2004, imports (in US dollars) amounted to 531 million, exports - 185 million. The basis of imports is machinery, equipment, fuels and lubricants, foodstuffs, consumer goods and products of the chemical industry. The main import partners are Germany (14.3%), Great Britain (9.3%), Côte d'Ivoire (8.9%), USA (8.6%), China (5.7%), the Netherlands (5.1%), South Africa (4.2%) and France (4.1) - 2004. The main export commodities are diamonds, iron ore, rutile, cocoa, coffee and seafood.The main export partners are Belgium (61, 4%), Germany (11.8%) and USA (5.4%) - 2004.
Politics
Sierra Leone is a presidential republic.
When Sierra Leone gained independence on April 27, 1961, legislative and executive power in the country was in the hands of the Parliament and the Cabinet, and the British monarch, represented by the Governor General, was considered the nominal head of state. Following constitutional amendments in 1971, Sierra Leone was proclaimed a republic with executive power vested in the president.
The official name is the Republic of Sierra Leone (Republic of Sierra Leone). It is located in Western Africa. The area is 71.7 thousand km2, the population is 5.6 million people. (2002). Official language- English. The capital is Freetown (1.0 million people, 2001). Public holiday - Independence Day April 27 (since 1961). Monetary unit - leone (equal to 100 cents). Member of more than 40 international organizations, incl. UN (since 1961), as well as a number of its specialized agencies, the AU, the Commonwealth (British), the Non-Aligned Movement, the Group of African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, etc.Attractions Sierra Leone
Gola National Park (Sierra Leone)
Geography of Sierra Leone
It is located at the intersection of 8°30' north latitude and 11°30' west longitude. In the north and northeast it borders on Guinea, in the southeast - with gg, in the west it is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The coast (402 km) is low, flat and sandy, indented in the north by estuaries, southeast of Sherbro Island - straight, with a lagoon stretching along it. The coastal strip of mangrove swamps passes in the west and south into a lowland plain and in the northeast - into the Leono-Liberian Upland with the peaks of Bintimani (1945 m), Sankan-Biriva (1858 m), Kundukondo (1631 m), Duru-kondo (1568 m). The bowels are rich in iron ore, diamonds, bauxite, gold, platinum, chromium ore, etc.
Red ferrallitic soils predominate.
The climate is tropical, hot and humid. The average annual precipitation on the coast reaches 4950 mm, in the interior - 2770 mm. The maximum precipitation falls in the "rainy season" (May - December) and the minimum - in the "dry season" (December - April). In December - February, a dry and sandy wind "harmattan" blows coming from the Sahara. The average temperature of the warmest month is +29°С, the coldest month is +24°С, within the country +31°С and +21°С, respectively.
The flora and fauna of Sierra Leone has been noticeably degraded as a result of human economic activity. Tropical forests now cover only 5% of the territory. Most of the territory is occupied by the savanna with its characteristic baobabs, shrubs, wild cereals, tall grasses, etc. The fauna of the country is characterized by various types of monkeys, antelopes, pygmy forest elephants, leopards, buffaloes, hippos, crocodiles, snakes. Numerous birds.
Sierra Leone has a developed river network. Most major rivers: Seva, Kaba, Roquel, Moa, Jong, Kolente.
Population of Sierra Leone
According to estimates for 2002, the population growth is 3.21%, the birth rate is 44.58%, the death rate is 18.83%, and the infant mortality rate is 144.38 people. per 1000 newborns. Life expectancy 45.96 years, incl. women 49.01, men 43.01 years. Age structure: 0-14 years - 44.7%, 15-64 years - 52.1, 65 years and older - 3.2%. The entire population is somewhat dominated by men, who are 3% more than women. 35% of the population lives in cities (1998).
OK. 90% of the inhabitants are representatives of indigenous African peoples, incl. Temne - 30% and Mende - 30%, 10% - Creoles (descendants of freed slaves), as well as refugees from Liberia, Europeans, Lebanese, Indians, etc. Languages - English, Krio (Creole), spoken for 95% of the population, in Mende is common in the south, dark in the north.
Religion: ca. 60% profess Islam, 30% of the population are adherents of local religious beliefs, 10% are Christians.
History of Sierra Leone
The coast of present-day Sierra Leone was known to Portuguese navigators as early as the 19th century. In con. 18th century after the abolition of slavery in Great Britain, the British authorities founded the Freetown settlement here and began to populate it with former black slaves, incl. African soldiers demobilized from the British army. During the period of the struggle against the slave trade, Great Britain settled in Freetown the freed slaves recaptured from the slave traders. Freetown, which became a colony of the British crown, was also used as a springboard for British expansion into adjacent areas of West Africa. In con. 19th century these areas were declared a British protectorate.
Sierra Leone became an independent state within the Commonwealth on April 27, 1961. Ten years later, on April 19, 1971, the country was proclaimed a republic. Socio-political and economic experiments of S.P. Stevens and his successor as president, J.S. Momo to create a society of social justice did not bring the expected results. The socio-political and economic situation of the country has deteriorated sharply.
From the beginning 1990s The country entered a period of internal political internecine conflict. On the border with neighboring Liberia, military operations of government troops intensified against the partisans of the Revolutionary United Front (ROF) and the Liberian rebels who supported them, led by C. Taylor. A military coup on April 29, 1992, overthrew President Momo, suspended the 1991 Constitution, and brought the National Provisional Ruling Council (NVPS) to power. In January 1996 there was a new military coup, but in February general presidential and parliamentary elections were held, which brought to power the Sierra Leone People's Party and its leader, A.T. Kabba. In May 1997, the military, opposed to the civilian government, staged a coup. However, as a result of sanctions by member countries and the actions of the ECOWAS military contingent (ECOMOG), the government of the Revolutionary Council armed forces was deposed, and in March 1998 President Kabbah returned to the country. In 2002, he was again elected president for a new five-year term.
Despite the efforts made by the world community, incl. the repeated organization of government negotiations with the rebels, the signing of ceasefire agreements, the beginning of the withdrawal of ECO-MOG troops, the deployment of a military contingent to the country as part of the UN Mission in Sierra Leone, etc., the internecine struggle in the country continues.
State structure and political system of Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone is a republic. On March 29, 1996, the 1991 Constitution, suspended in April 1992, was renewed. Administratively, Sierra Leone is divided into 3 provinces (Eastern, Northern and Southern) and the Western Region (Freetown with suburbs). The largest cities: Freetown, Koidu, Bo, Kenema, Makeni.
The government of Sierra Leone is carried out by three branches of government: legislative, executive and judicial. The highest body of legislative power is the unicameral parliament. The highest executive authority is the president, who is the head of state and head of government (President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah, since March 29, 1996, overthrown on May 25, 1997, restored to power on March 10, 1998, re-elected on May 14, 2002). Government ministers are appointed by the president and then approved by parliament.
Among the prominent political leaders of Sierra Leone: Siaka Probin Stevens - Prime Minister (1968-71), President (1971-85), creator of a one-party system, initiator of building a social justice society in Sierra Leone based on socialist principles and stimulating a national state and private enterprise.
There is a multi-party system. In addition to the ruling Sierra Leone People's Party, which has 83 seats, the All People's Congress party (22 seats) and the Peace and Liberation Party (2 seats) are represented in parliament. The People's Democratic Party, the National Unity Party, the National Unity Movement, the Center Democratic Party, the Coalition for Progress, the People's National Convention and a number of other parties also function in the country.
Leading business organizations include the Sierra Leone Employers' Federation, the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, and the Chamber of Mines. There are trade union organizations united under the auspices of the Labor Congress of Sierra Leone, as well as youth and other organizations in the country.
The armed forces of Sierra Leone have approx. 10 thousand soldiers and officers (2001).
Economy of Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone is among the ten poorest countries in the world. GDP 2.7 billion US dollars, i.e. OK. $500 per capita (2001). Still in con. 1980s OK. 68% of the population was below the poverty line. GDP growth rate 3% (2001). Inflation 15% (2000).
In the sectoral structure of the economy, agriculture accounts for 43% of GDP (2000), and the overwhelming majority of the economically active population, up to 80%, is employed in agricultural production. The share of industry in GDP is 27%, services 30%.
Agriculture is represented mainly by crop production, producing consumer crops (rice, cassava, millet, sorghum, etc.) for personal consumption. Only a small share of this production goes to the domestic commodity market. Commercial crops are also grown - cocoa, coffee, oil palm. Due to the spread of the tsetse fly, animal husbandry is poorly developed. Fishery products in coastal and inland waters are consumed domestically and partially exported.
Industry is underdeveloped. The leading place in its sectoral structure is occupied by the mining of diamonds, rutile, as well as small volumes of bauxite and gold. The manufacturing industry is represented by small enterprises focused on the local market.
The main mode of transport is road, network highways is 11.7 thousand km, incl. 936 km are paved roads and 10,764 km are unpaved roads (2002). Total length railways 84 km with narrow (1067 mm) gauge (2001).
Seaports in Freetown, Bont and Ashes. The merchant fleet has 55 ships (1997). Navigation is also carried out along the rivers, 600 km of which are open for navigation all year round. There are 10 airfields in the country, incl. only one of them has a paved runway and two helipads (2002).
The country has 9 ultra-shortwave, one medium and one shortwave radio stations, two television stations (1999), 1.12 million radio receivers and 53 thousand television sets are in use (1997), there are 25 thousand telephone lines and 30 thousand people. covered cellular communication(2001), one ISP and 20 thousand Internet users (2001).
There are 5 banks in Sierra Leone, the Bank of Sierra Leone plays the role of the central one. The external debt of Sierra Leone is 1.3 billion US dollars (2000).
State budget (2000, million USD): revenues 96, expenditures 351.
Through foreign trade channels, Sierra Leone receives food, machinery, equipment, fuels, lubricants, chemicals and other goods in exchange for diamonds, rutile, iron ore, cocoa, coffee and seafood.
Science and culture of Sierra Leone
Read and write (in English or in Mende, in dark, in Arabic) are able to 31.4% of adult residents of Sierra Leone, incl. 45.4% male and 18.2% female (1995 est.). The country has a university and 16 colleges (technical and pedagogical).
REPUBLIC, state in Zap. Africa. State-in. declared independence in 1961 G., retains the name that appeared in the XV v. Around 1461 G. Portuguese The slave trader of Peru di Sintra discovered the mountain, which, for its resemblance to a lying lioness, he named Serra da Lioa (Serra da Lyoa) - "lion's backbone". The name was later corrupted into (Sierra Leone) - "lion mountains" which makes no sense - lions have never been found in this country.
Geographical names of the world: Toponymic dictionary. - M: AST. Pospelov E.M. 2001 .
Sierra Leone
(Sierra Leone, in Portuguese - "lion-mountain", or "country of lion mountains"), a state in the West. Africa, on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Pl. 72.3 thousand km², the capital - Freetown
. In the XV century. the Portuguese penetrated the coast, giving the name to the country; from the 17th century it is captured by English slave traders. In 1787, the freed slaves founded the Freetown colony here. Since April 27, 1961 - an independent state; since 1971 - Republic of Sierra Leone
; the head of state is the president, and the House of Representatives has legislative power. Part of the British Commonwealth. In 1991–96 - Civil War.
The shores are low, flat, and sandy; in the north, they are indented by river estuaries. The Leono-Liberian elevation prevails. (Mt. Bintimani, 1948 m); in the north, spurs of the Futa-Jallon massif; to the west and south - nism. plain. The climate is equatorial, humid (one of the first places in Western Africa in terms of precipitation). On the coast Wed.-Mon. temperatures 24–27 °С; in the inner areas are somewhat lower. The rainy season is from May to September, the dry season is from October to May. Heavy rains, floods. The rivers are full of water, but rapids and navigable only in the lower reaches. In the north, tall grass savannah; to the south and southeast. - thickets of shrubs; to the east mountain slopes - areas of moist equatorial forests (less than 5% of the territory); on the coast - mangrove forests and swamps. Loma Mountains Forest Reserves, Mammoth Mayosa.
Population approx. 5.4 million people (2001); the peoples of the Atlantic family (Temne, Bulom, Fulbe, Limba, etc.) and the Mende family of languages (Mende, Kono, Kuranko). There are Creoles - the descendants of black immigrants from America. Official the language is English, the languages spoken are Krio, Mende and Temne. OK. 70% of believers are Muslims (in the north), 15% are Christians (in the south); the rest adhere to traditional beliefs. Citizens 23%; cities are growing rapidly. One of the world's poorest countries, the economy is undermined civil war. The most important industry - diamond mining - is in crisis (up to 90% of gem diamonds are smuggled out). On S.-L. accounts for 1/3 of the world's rutile production (1.4 million tons); gold and bauxite deposits are being developed; there are deposits of iron. ores and other minerals. Small pr-tiya on pr-vu soft drinks, footwear, furniture, cigarettes; woodworking, oil refinery prom. Cutting and polishing of diamonds. Ship repair. Sat. x-backward ( manual labor, family-communal land tenure), does not satisfy the country's food needs. Main crops: rice, corn, cocoa beans, coffee, tobacco, oil palm (palm kernels), cassava, vegetables (tomatoes), peanuts, fruits (bananas, oranges, dates, mangoes). Ginger, sisal, sesame, tobacco, hevea are grown. From the leaves of the raffia palm, a fiber is made - piassava. Livestock is limited due to the tsetse fly. Lumbering. Fish-in. Artistic crafts: wood carving (masks from a whole piece of black wood, household utensils, jewelry), pottery, basket weaving, leather dressing, etc. The main seaport is Freetown. Intern. the airport. Rutile, diamonds, bauxites, cocoa beans, coffee, tobacco, and fish are exported. Univ. National museum in Freetown. Monetary units - leone.
Dictionary of modern geographical names. - Yekaterinburg: U-Factoria. Under the general editorship of Acad. V. M. Kotlyakova. 2006 .
Encyclopedia Around the World. 2008 .
SIERRA LEONE
REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE
State in West Africa. In the north and east it borders on Guinea, in the southeast - on Liberia. In the southwest and west it is washed by the Atlantic Ocean. The area of the country is 71740 km2.
The population of Sierra Leone (estimated in 1998) is about 5,080,000 people, with an average population density of about 71 people per km2. Ethnic groups: Dark - 30%, Mende - 29%, Creoles, about 20 more groups. Language: English (official), Mende, Temne, other African languages, Creo (dialect based on in English). Religion: pagans - 52%, Muslims - 40%, Christians - 8%. The capital is Freetown. Largest cities: Freetown (649,000 people), Kenema (337,000 people), Bo (269,000 people). The state structure is a military regime. Head of the Supreme Council of State - Valentine Esegragbo Melvayne Strasser (in power since May 7, 1992). The monetary unit is the leone. Average life expectancy (for 1998): 38 years - men]; ,41 years old - women. The birth rate (per 1,000 people) is 46.2. Mortality rate (per 1000 people) - 17.2.
The first Europeans in this region were the Portuguese in 1460, who gave the name to the country, which means "lion's mountains". The British colony appeared in Freetown in 1787. Sierra Leone became a royal colony in 1808 and a protectorate in 1896. In 1924, the country held its first local government elections. Sierra Leone gained independence on April 27, 1961. On April 29, 1992, a military coup took place in the country. Sierra Leone is a member of the UN, GATT, IMF, WHO, Organization of African Unity. British Commonwealth of Nations.
Among the representatives of the fauna are mainly small mammals: forest pig, chimpanzee, porcupine. There are crocodiles and hippos in the rivers. The climate is tropical. The average annual temperature in Freetown is about 26 ° C, the rainy season lasts from May to October.
The main attractions are located in Freetown: the National Museum, the Botanical Garden, the Anglican Cathedral of St. George (1828).
Encyclopedia: cities and countries. 2008 .
Sierra Leone is a state located in West Africa on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Area - 72.3 thousand sq. km. The capital is Freetown. Until independence in 1961 - a British possession (cm. Great Britain). It is currently a presidential republic, part of the British Commonwealth. The official language is English. Sierra Leone, translated from Portuguese, means "lion mountains" and is so named because of the roar of waterfalls resembling a lion's roar on the rivers flowing from the mountains.
Most of the country's territory is an undulating plain, gradually lowering towards the southwest. The plain is cut through by numerous full-flowing rivers Kaba, Rokelle, Seva and others. The ocean coast is low, sandy, in the north it is heavily indented by estuaries that serve as convenient natural harbors (especially the mouth of the Rockelle River, where the Freetown harbor is located - the best in West Africa). The entire northeast is occupied by the Leono-Liberian Upland (the highest point is Mount Bintimani, 1948 m) and the spurs of the Futa-Jallon highlands. The combination of mountains, plains, rivers and sandy coasts gives a unique identity to the nature of Sierra Leone.
The climate of the country is subequatorial. Average monthly temperatures on the coast range from 24°C (August) to 27°C (April), while inland it is cooler (20–21°C). Precipitation falls mainly in summer (from May to September): up to 4500 mm on the coast and 2000–2500 mm in inland areas. The country is considered one of the rainiest in West Africa. About half of the territory of Sierra Leone is occupied by tall grass savannas, where leopards, hyenas, antelopes, zebras live, elephants and buffaloes are found. On the eastern slopes of the mountains and in the south of the country, areas of moist equatorial forests have been preserved; on some rivers there are rare pygmy hippos, and in their mouths there is an endangered marine mammal manatee. Mangrove forests are found along the coast of the ocean in the intertidal zone. On the Freetown peninsula, where low mountains covered with palm trees approach the ocean, lagoons with rich near-water vegetation are especially picturesque.
The indigenous population of the country (the total number is about 6.1 million people) is made up of 17 nationalities and tribes, the most numerous of which are the Mende and Temne, who are engaged in agriculture. More than half of believers adhere to traditional beliefs, about 30% profess Islam, the rest are Christians. Traditional crafts, examples of oral (legends, fairy tales) and material culture (especially wooden ritual masks) of the peoples of Sierra Leone are widely known throughout the world. The country's capital, Freetown, is one of the oldest cities in West Africa, founded in 1792. The city center is built up with two- and three-story houses in the style of English cities of the 19th century. Founded in 1827, Fourah Bay University College and the National Museum are located here.
Encyclopedia of Tourism Cyril and Methodius. 2008 .
Synonyms: An Artistic Encyclopedia - National Emblem and Flag of Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone, Republic of Sierra Leone. General information SL state in West Africa, on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Part of the Commonwealth (British) ... Encyclopedic reference book "Africa"
The Republic of Sierra Leone is a state in West Africa, on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. 72.3 thousand km2. Population 4.6 million (1996); peoples Temne, Mende, Limba, Fulbe, etc. Urban population 36.2%. ... ... encyclopedic Dictionary
The West African state of Sierra Leone, like many countries in the region, is "famous" for high level crime and regular rallies, only brave tourists go here. The infrastructure is mediocre, but the potential for the development of resort areas is huge. What resorts in Sierra Leone will be in demand and what to visit in the country.
General idea of the country
Sierra Leone is located in the western region of the "black" continent, on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Neighbors are Guinea and Liberia. The state became independent only in 1961. The republic is considered the poorest in West Africa, which is intertwined with high crime and a serious level of corruption.
The weather is formed by an equatorial climate with year-round heat and high humidity. The tropical rain season lasts from May to autumn, the rest of the time the territory of Sierra Leone is blown by northern winds that bring sand from the Sahara. It is better to come here in October or in winter.
How to get from different CIS countries
The post-Soviet republics are not connected with Sierra Leone by direct flights. There are regular flights from Moscow or Minsk to Freetown via London or Brussels. Some tourists fly to Guinea with a transfer in Paris, after which they cross the border using local airlines.
If you take into account the docking, then the flight takes 17 hours. Neighboring Guinea is connected to Freetown by bus service. Citizens of the CIS countries before traveling to Sierra Leone need a special visa and get medical insurance.
Seaside resorts in Sierra Leone
The most popular resort of the republic is Freetown, which is the largest port of the state and one of the oldest in West Africa. From the British, colonial buildings and typical English streets remained in the city. The capital is located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, therefore it attracts guests with good beaches.
The city of Lakka is known for its excellent conditions for sea fishing. Sea lovers should visit Aberdeen, the Banana Islands and a beautiful village located in the vicinity of York. Sierra Leone's seaside resorts are now in a stagnant state due to military conflicts, but the country has great potential to become the "pearl" of West Africa.
Medical and ecological tourism in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone is constantly suffering from wars, coups, and the entire population lives below the poverty line. There are no medical resorts. The only type of recovery that the country offers to travelers is spa centers in a few of the best hotels in the republic.
The situation with ecological tourism is favorable. The Atlantic coast is interesting for mangroves, and the southern regions are for equatorial forests. Connoisseurs of virgin nature should visit the mountains of Loma. The large island of Tiwai is famous for its tropical jungle and biosphere reserve with monkeys, pygmy hippos and river otters.
Gola National Park is the largest in the country. The tropical forests are home to African elephants and chimpanzees, hippos, birds and butterflies. In the Mammoth Mayosso reserve, they are trying with all their might to save dwarf crocodiles from extinction. Kangari Hills Park serves to preserve the population of forest elephants.
Entertainment, how to spend time
The center of nightlife in Freetown and Sierra Leone is the Lagunda area, where local and visiting youth have fun in clubs, discos and have a good time in cafes and bars. In the capital, you must visit the National and Railway Museum, the library, admire the colonial architecture.
Outside the city, Africa begins with the savannah and wild animals; after a holiday in Freetown, almost all tourists go on safari around the metropolitan area. Sierra Leone also attracts by hiking in national parks, tropical forests and botanical gardens.
Shopping enthusiasts buy Aboriginal clothing, local jewelry and fabrics, wooden figurines, African masks and accessories made of crocodile or snake skin.
Attractions what to see
Freetown will appeal to guests with Fort Thornton, the National Museum, St. George's Cathedral, Parliament House and the Botanical Gardens. The center of the capital is adorned with the two-century-old Cotton Tree, the oldest bazaar in the Republic of King Jimmy. Be sure to look at the medieval "Portuguese stairs", which once slaves descended to the ocean.
The visiting card of Sierra Leone are natural attractions. Banana islands will delight you with the cleanest beaches, and some paradise corners of the archipelago - with the absence of people. National parks and reserves will pamper tourists with jungles and wild African animals.
Valentine: Accidentally went to Sierra Leone. To be honest, we were surprised that special bars for Russians were opened in the capital. In addition to establishments for domestic tourists, this African country was pleasantly struck by calm and cozy beaches, beautiful nature. Everything else is amateur.
Eugene: Last year I had to go to Sierra Leone. In the summer it is unbearable, the humidity is off scale, constant tropical downpours. Strange city with many slums. Outside the capital, Africa opens up like on TV.
Sierra Leone is still reeling from the devastating conflict. Despite high crime and poverty, the country has good prospects in terms of tourism development. The Republic will be able to offer worthy seaside resorts and National parks, nightclubs and cultural attractions.
