An independent small state located in the western. Mali (country)

Togo is a country in West Africa. The area is 56 thousand square kilometers. This small narrow country stretches from north to south - to the hot coast of the Gulf of Guinea. The border runs in the north with Burkina Faso, in the east with Benin, in the west with Ghana. From the south it is washed by the Gulf of Guinea. The swamps and lagoons of the south turn into a plateau, which gives way to the central mountains. north of the mountains arid savannah. Despite the fact that Togo is one of the smallest countries in the world, eco-tourism has reached its peak here. More than 17% of the country's territory is covered with dense forests. Here is a large lake - Togo. A significant area of ​​the country is covered with savannas. The climate of the country is hot. During the autumn and winter months, the harmattan winds bring sand from the Sahara, while during the autumn and summer months frequent rains.

History of Togo

• XV century: the Portuguese discovered the coast of the country and called it the Slave Coast.
• 2nd half of the 17th century: on the territory of modern Togo, large ethnic associations with strong centralized power were formed.
• 1884-1922: Togo under German protectorate. After the First World War, the western part of Togo became a British mandate (British Togo), and France received a mandate to administer the eastern part (French Togo).
• 1946: the country passes under the trusteeship of the UN, the management is retained by the UK and France.
• 1957: British part (Gold Coast) incorporated into Ghana.
• 1960: French Togo is declared the independent Republic of Togo.
• 1963: military coup. Adoption of the constitution, the name of the country became the Togolese Republic.
• 1991: introduction of a multi-party system.
• 1992: A new constitution is adopted in a referendum

Population of Togo

The population is about 7 million people. Togo is a multi-ethnic state, dominated by Ewe and Cabré. It is noteworthy that the majority of the population of Togo remained faithful to the traditional beliefs of the natives. The country is home to 36 ethnic groups. 51% of the population practice local traditional beliefs, 20% are Muslims and 29% are Christians. The average life expectancy in the country is 62 years for men and 65 years for women. The urban population is 43%.

This beautiful region was first seen by the Portuguese in the 15th century. Togo later became a protectorate of Germany. After the redistribution of forces in Europe, England and France claim the lands of Togo.

In 1960, the state became officially independent. The peoples living in Togo.

• Bassari
• Yoruba
• Somba
• Kabye
• Concomba
• Gourma
• Kusashi

Economy of Togo

Togo is an agrarian country with an unstable economy.

Agriculture in the Togolese economy generates 47% of GDP and employs 65% of the working population. Animal husbandry is poorly developed compared to other countries in the region.

The main agricultural crops grown in the country are yams, corn, beans, sorghum, cotton, millet, cocoa.

Industry is underdeveloped. Graphite, phosphates, bauxites, chromium, limestone, and iron uranium are mined in the country.

The manufacturing industry is represented by the processing of agricultural products, the production of beverages. There are several textile factories.

Cities of Togo

The table shows the largest cities in the country and their population.

Living in large countries, not everyone and not always can travel all corners of their homeland. However, there are states in the world, all the sights and attractions of which 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, is governed by the Pope and the conclave of cardinals, has the status of an independent state and even has its own army. True, despite such a small territory, it is unlikely to be able to see it in one day - so many architectural, sculptural and pictorial masterpieces are collected in it. The Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Cathedral, the residence of the Pope - the Apostolic Palace, etc. - are far from full list masterpieces. Half of the country's territory is occupied by the Vatican Gardens. Approximately 800 people are official citizens of the Vatican, and several thousand Italians travel here every day to work.

2. Monaco
Monaco is the second smallest country. Over the past 20 years, due to the drying of the sea, the area of ​​the country has increased and now it is 20.2 square kilometers. kilometers. Monaco is a monarchical state, is one of the most densely populated countries in the world and has 30 thousand inhabitants. The main source of income for the residents is tourism.

3. Nauru
Nauru is located in the south Pacific Ocean in Micronesia. The area of ​​the state is 21.3 sq. kilometers. The Republic of Nauru is the smallest island nation in the world. It gained independence in 1968, although the island was home to the natives for 3 thousand years. To date, the population of the country is about 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 kilometers. 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 population of the country is 10.5 thousand people. Due to the lack of 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 sq. kilometer and has the smallest population among the member countries of the European Council. It is located in Southern Europe, surrounded on all sides by the territory of Italy. It is the oldest independent country in the world and was 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 sq. kilometers. Liechtenstein borders Switzerland and Austria and is landlocked. It is one of the richest states. Registered here more companies 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 sq. 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 America's help helps them "keep afloat".

8. Seychelles
Heaven on earth Seychelles occupy an area of ​​455 square kilometers, a population of 84 thousand people. The archipelago is located in the Indian Ocean, north of Madagascar and consists of 115 islands. The islands were able 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
The Republic of Maldives is an island country. It is located in the Indian Ocean and is the smallest Asian country in terms of area. The area of ​​the country is 298 sq. km., the population is 396 thousand. Two-thirds of the population lives in the capital of the country - Male. Previously, the country developed thanks to the export of dried tuna, kauri clams and coconut cables, 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 inhabited by Europeans. The main source of income is tourism, agriculture and offshore banking are also developed.

Africa is a part of the world with an area of ​​\u200b\u200bwith islands of 30.3 million km 2, this is the second place after Eurasia, 6% of the entire surface of our planet and 20% of the land.

Geographical position

Africa is located in the Northern and Eastern Hemispheres (most), a small part in the Southern and Western. Like all large fragments of the ancient mainland Gondwana, it has a massive outline, large peninsulas and deep bays are absent. The length of the continent from north to south is 8 thousand km, from west to east - 7.5 thousand km. In the north it is washed by the waters mediterranean sea, in the northeast by the Red Sea, in the southeast by the Indian Ocean, in the west by the Atlantic Ocean. Africa is separated from Asia by the Suez Canal, from Europe by the Strait of Gibraltar.

Main geographical features

Africa lies on an ancient platform, which determines its flat surface, which in some places is dissected by deep river valleys. On the coast of the mainland there are few lowlands, the northwest is the location of the Atlas Mountains, the northern part, almost completely occupied by the Sahara desert, is the Ahaggar and Tibetsi highlands, the east is the Ethiopian highlands, the southeast is the East African plateau, the extreme south is the Cape and Draconian mountains The highest point in Africa is Mount Kilimanjaro (5895 m, Masai plateau), the lowest is 157 meters below sea level in Lake Assal. Along the Red Sea, in the Ethiopian Highlands and to the mouth of the Zambezi River, the world's largest fault in the earth's crust stretches, which is characterized by frequent seismic activity.

Rivers flow through Africa: Congo (Central Africa), Niger (Western Africa), Limpopo, Orange, Zambezi ( South Africa), as well as one of the most full-flowing and longest rivers in the world - the Nile (6852 km), flowing from south to north (its sources are on the East African Plateau, and it flows, forming a delta, into the Mediterranean Sea). The rivers are high-water only in the equatorial zone, due to the large amount of precipitation there, most of them are characterized by high flow speed, have many rapids and waterfalls. In lithospheric faults filled with water, lakes were formed - Nyasa, Tanganyika, the largest freshwater lake in Africa and the second largest after Lake Superior (North America) - Victoria (its area is 68.8 thousand km 2, length 337 km, max depth - 83 m), the largest salty drainless lake is Chad (its area is 1.35 thousand km 2, located on the southern outskirts of the largest desert in the world, the Sahara).

Due to the location of Africa between two tropical zones, it is characterized by high total solar radiation, which gives the right to call Africa the hottest continent on Earth (the highest temperature on our planet was recorded in 1922 in El Azizia (Libya) - +58 C 0 in the shadow).

On the territory of Africa, such natural zones are distinguished as evergreen equatorial forests (the coast of the Gulf of Guinea, the Congo depression), in the north and south turning into mixed deciduous-evergreen forests, then there is a natural zone of savannahs and light forests, extending to Sudan, East and South Africa, to Sevre and southern Africa savannas are replaced by semi-deserts and deserts (Sahara, Kalahari, Namib). In the southeastern part of Africa there is a small zone of mixed coniferous-deciduous forests, on the slopes of the Atlas Mountains - a zone of hard-leaved evergreen forests and shrubs. The natural zones of mountains and plateaus are subject to the laws of altitudinal zonation.

African countries

The territory of Africa is divided between 62 countries, 54 - independent, sovereign states, 10 dependent territories belonging to Spain, Portugal, Great Britain and France, the rest are unrecognized, self-proclaimed states - Galmudug, Puntland, Somaliland, the Saharan Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). For a long time, the countries of Asia were foreign colonies of various European states and only by the middle of the last century gained independence. Depending on the geographical location Africa is divided into five regions such as North, Central, West, East and South Africa.

List of African countries

Nature

Mountains and plains of Africa

Most of the African continent is a plain. Available mountain systems, uplands and plateaus. They are presented:

• the Atlas Mountains in the northwestern part of the continent;
• the Tibesti and Ahaggar uplands in the Sahara desert;
• Ethiopian highlands in the eastern part of the mainland;
• Dragon Mountains in the south.

The highest point in the country is Mount Kilimanjaro, with a height of 5,895 m, belonging to the East African Plateau in the southeastern part of the mainland ...

Deserts and savannas

The largest desert zone of the African continent is located in the northern part. This is the Sahara Desert. On the southwestern side of the continent is another smaller desert, the Namib, and from it, inland to the east, is the Kalahari Desert.

The territory of the savanna occupies the main part of Central Africa. In terms of area, it is much larger than the northern and southern parts of the mainland. The territory is characterized by the presence of pastures typical for savannahs, low shrubs and trees. The height of grassy vegetation varies depending on the amount of precipitation. It can be almost desert savannas or tall grasses, with grass cover from 1 to 5 m in height...

Rivers

On the territory of the African continent is the longest river in the world - the Nile. Its direction of flow is from south to north.

In the list of major water systems of the mainland, Limpopo, Zambezi and the Orange River, as well as the Congo, which flows through the territory of Central Africa.

On the Zambezi River is the famous Victoria Falls, 120 meters high and 1,800 meters wide...

lakes

The list of large lakes of the African continent includes Lake Victoria, which is the second largest freshwater reservoir in the world. Its depth reaches 80 m, and its area is 68,000 square kilometers. Two more large lakes continents: Tanganyika and Nyasa. They are located in the faults of the lithospheric plates.

There is Lake Chad in Africa, which is one of the world's largest endorheic relict lakes that have no connection with the oceans ...

Seas and oceans

The African continent is washed by the waters of two oceans at once: the Indian and the Atlantic. Also off its coast are the Red and Mediterranean Seas. From the Atlantic Ocean in the southwestern part of the water form the deep Gulf of Guinea.

Despite the location of the African continent, coastal waters are cool. This is influenced by the cold currents of the Atlantic Ocean: the Canary in the north and the Bengal in the southwest. From the side indian ocean currents are warm. The largest are Mozambique, in the northern waters, and Needle, in the southern ...

Forests of Africa

Forests from the entire territory of the African continent make up a little more than a quarter. Here are subtropical forests growing on the slopes of the Atlas Mountains and the valleys of the ridge. Here you can find holm oak, pistachio, strawberry tree, etc. Coniferous plants grow high in the mountains, represented by Aleppo pine, Atlas cedar, juniper and other types of trees.

Closer to the coast there are forests of cork oak, in the tropical region evergreen equatorial plants are common, for example, mahogany, sandalwood, ebony, etc...

Nature, plants and animals of Africa

The vegetation of the equatorial forests is diverse, there are about 1000 species of various tree species: ficus, ceiba, wine tree, olive palm, wine palm, banana palm, tree ferns, sandalwood, mahogany, rubber trees, Liberian coffee tree, etc. . It is home to many species of animals, rodents, birds and insects living right on the trees. On earth live: bush pigs, leopards, African deer - a relative of the okapi giraffe, large apes - gorillas ...

40% of the territory of Africa is occupied by savannas, which are huge steppe areas covered with forbs, low, thorny shrubs, milkweed, and stand-alone trees (tree-like acacias, baobabs).

Here there is the largest accumulation of such large animals as: rhinoceros, giraffe, elephant, hippopotamus, zebra, buffalo, hyena, lion, leopard, cheetah, jackal, crocodile, hyena dog. The most numerous animals of the savannah are such herbivores as: bubal (antelope family), giraffe, impala or black-fifth antelope, various types of gazelles (Thomson, Grant), blue wildebeest, and in some places there are rare jumping antelopes - springboks.

The vegetation of deserts and semi-deserts is characterized by poverty and unpretentiousness, these are small thorny shrubs, separately growing bunches of herbs. In the oases, the unique Erg Chebbi date palm grows, as well as plants that are resistant to drought conditions and the formation of salts. In the Namib Desert, unique velvichia and nara plants grow, the fruits of which feed on porcupines, elephants and other animals of the desert.

Of the animals, various species of antelopes and gazelles live here, adapted to the hot climate and capable of traveling great distances in search of food, many species of rodents, snakes, and turtles. Lizards. Among mammals: spotted hyena, common jackal, maned sheep, Cape hare, Ethiopian hedgehog, gazelle dorcas, saber-horned antelope, Anubis baboon, wild Nubian donkey, cheetah, jackal, fox, mouflon, there are permanently living and migratory birds.

Climatic conditions

Seasons, weather and climate of African countries

The central part of Africa, through which the equator line passes, is in the area of ​​low pressure and receives sufficient moisture, the territories north and south of the equator are in the subequatorial climate zone, this is a zone of seasonal (monsoonal) moisture and an arid desert climate. The extreme north and south are in the subtropical climatic zone, the south receives precipitation brought by air masses from the Indian Ocean, the Kalahari Desert is located here, the north has the minimum amount of precipitation due to the formation of a high pressure area and the peculiarities of the movement of the trade winds, largest desert world - Sahara, where the amount of precipitation is minimal, in some areas it does not fall at all ...

Resources

African Natural Resources

In terms of water resources, Africa is considered one of the least prosperous continents in the world. The average annual volume of water is only enough to meet primary needs, but this does not apply to all regions.

Land resources are represented by large areas with fertile lands. Only 20% of all possible land is cultivated. The reason for this is the lack of the proper volume of water, soil erosion, etc.

The forests of Africa are a source of timber, including species of valuable varieties. The countries in which they grow, the raw materials are exported. Resources are misused and ecosystems are slowly being destroyed.

In the bowels of Africa there are deposits of minerals. Among those sent for export: gold, diamonds, uranium, phosphorus, manganese ores. There are significant reserves of oil and natural gas.

Energy-intensive resources are widely represented on the continent, but they are not used due to the lack of proper investments...

Among the developed industrial sectors of the countries of the African continent, one can note:

• the mining industry that exports minerals and fuels;
• the oil refining industry, distributed mainly in South Africa and North Africa;
• chemical industry specializing in the production of mineral fertilizers;
• as well as the metallurgical and engineering industries.

main products Agriculture are cocoa beans, coffee, corn, rice and wheat. In the tropical regions of Africa, oil palm is grown.

Fishing is poorly developed and accounts for only 1-2% of the total volume of agriculture. The indicators of animal husbandry are also not high, and the reason for this is the infection of livestock with tsetse flies ...

culture

The peoples of Africa: culture and traditions

About 8,000 peoples and ethnic groups live on the territory of 62 African countries, which in total is about 1.1 billion people. Africa is considered the cradle and ancestral home of human civilization, it was here that the remains of ancient primates (hominids) were found, which, according to scientists, are considered the ancestors of people.

Most of the peoples in Africa may number from several thousand people to several hundred living in one or two villages. 90% of the population are representatives of 120 peoples, their number is more than 1 million people, 2/3 of them are peoples with more than 5 million people, 1/3 - peoples with more than 10 million people (this is 50% of the total population of Africa) - Arabs , Hausa, Fulbe, Yoruba, Igbo, Amhara, Oromo, Rwanda, Malagasy, Zulu...

There are two historical and ethnographic provinces: North African (the predominance of the Indo-European race) and Tropical-African (the majority of the population is the Negroid race), it is divided into such areas as:

• West Africa. The peoples who speak Mande (Susu, Maninka, Mende, Wai), Chadian (Hausa), Nilo-Saharan (Songhai, Kanuri, Tubu, Zagawa, Mawa, etc.), Niger-Congo languages ​​(Yoruba, Igbo, Bini, nupe, gbari, igala and idoma, ibibio, efik, kambari, birom and jukun, etc.);
• Equatorial Africa. Inhabited by Buanto-speaking peoples: Duala, Fang, Bubi (Fernandese), Mpongwe, Teke, Mboshi, Ngala, Komo, Mongo, Tetela, Cuba, Kongo, Ambundu, Ovimbundu, Chokwe, Luena, Tonga, Pygmies, etc.;
• South Africa. Rebellious-speaking peoples, and speaking Khoisan languages: Bushmen and Hottentots;
• East Africa. Bantu, Nilotic and Sudanese groups of peoples;
• North East Africa. The peoples speaking Ethio-Semitic (Amhara, Tigre, Tigra.), Cushitic (Oromo, Somalis, Sidamo, Agau, Afar, Konso, etc.) and Omotian languages ​​(Ometo, Gimirra, etc.);
• Madagascar. Malagasy and Creoles.

In the North African province, the main peoples are considered to be Arabs and Berbers, belonging to the South European minor race, mainly practicing Sunni Islam. There is also an ethno-religious group of Copts, who are direct descendants of the Ancient Egyptians, they are Monophysite Christians.

Details Category: West African countries Posted on 03/17/2015 10:48 Viewed: 1994

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

The official name of the state is Republic of Liberia. It borders on Sierra Leone, Guinea, Côte 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 - moral principles. The white star symbolizes the emancipation of the slaves, and the blue square symbolizes the African continent. The flag was approved on July 16, 1847.
The flag of Liberia is the most common flag of the world's merchant fleet (about 1600 ships from other countries fly this flag). This fact is explained by the low cost of fees for the use of the flag in comparison with 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 US to Liberia. Above the shield is an unfolded scroll with the national motto of Liberia: "The love of freedom brought us here." Under the shield is a scroll indicating English language The official name of the country is "Republic of Liberia".
The plow and shovel are symbols of the dignity of labor and hard work, through which the nation will prosper. The rising sun in the background symbolizes the birth of a nation. The palm tree is the most versatile food source for Liberians. A white dove with a scroll symbolizes the breath of the world.

State structure

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

Incumbent since 2006 Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. She is the first female president African country. Graduated from Harvard University.
Capital and largest city- Monrovia.
Official language- English, which is spoken by about 20% of the population. The rest speak aboriginal languages, 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 the Caribbean 2.5%. The urban population is 60%.

Religion- Christians 85%, Muslims 12%, Aboriginal cults 1.5%, Baha'is, 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 line.
One of the largest income items is the fees for the use of the Liberian flag by merchant ships of other states.

Grinding sugar cane
Large mineral resources: large reserves of iron ore, there are placers of gold, diamonds, 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: fuels, chemicals, cars, transport equipment, food. Transport: road, railway, water, air.
Education- Officially compulsory is 9 years of primary education, which children receive at the age of 7-16 years. Education in primary and secondary schools is free (except for an annual entrance fee of 10,000 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 in English.
Sport- football is popular. The country has taken part in the 11 Summer Olympics since 1956. It has not participated in the Winter Olympics. Athletes from Liberia have never won an Olympic medal.
Military establishment- Army, Navy, Air Force. The internal order is provided by the police.

Nature

The coastline of Liberia is partially indented by lagoons, mangrove swamps, estuaries (the mouth of a river expanding towards the sea). The country has a fairly extensive network of rivers. The largest rivers are Mano, St. Paul, Loffa, St. John, Sess and Cavalli. Only the lower Saint Paul River is navigable.
Forests occupy 18% of the territory. These are mainly gvea palms, valuable tropical species. Liberia has significant reserves of valuable timber.

Acacias, baobabs and other types of trees grow in the savannahs. Mangrove forests grow along the coast.
Beautiful on the coast sandy beaches, but many of them are in a state of disrepair.

Sapo National Park created in 1983. This is an island of pristine nature with an area of ​​1800 km², occupied by tropical rainforests. Animals of the park: pygmy hippos 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 over 140 species of mammals in Liberia. The forests are home to many different insects (from termites to tsetse flies), birds, amphibians and reptiles. Wild animals have survived mainly in the east and northwest of Liberia: elephants, leopards, antelopes, bush pig, African (black) buffalo.

bush pig
Climate tropical: high temperature and high humidity.

culture

The most common type of folk dwelling is a hut built on a frame of poles. The walls are made of stakes or bamboo bundles fastened with vines, they are plastered with white clay on the outside. Walls and sometimes doors are covered with carvings or colored paintings of a geometric nature. The conical roof is covered with 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 - from 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 along 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 World War II. One of the most famous painters and sculptors of Liberia - Laron Brown.
Crafts and arts and crafts are developed: wood carving, ivory carving, pottery, metal processing, weaving of baskets and bags from straw and vegetable fibers.
Modern literature develops in English and local languages.

Professional musicians and singers appeared in the middle of the 20th century. Popular musician Otto Brown, ensemble of traditional music "Loffa-30". Popular music in the styles of hi-life, 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 National Museum Liberia, the Monrovia Masonic Palace, the coastal market and several beaches, the Antoinette Tubman Stadium for 10,000 people, the Samuel Canyon Doe sports complex with 40,000 seats and one of the largest in Africa.

Masonic Palace

Samuel Canyon Doe Sports Complex

National Multi-Purpose Complex, built in 1986. Was destroyed during the First and Second civil wars in 1980-2003 Refurbished in 2007
Mainly used for football matches, has an athletics track.
The grassy surface of the stadium. Plasma video screens demonstrate 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 ethnic tourism.

Pavilion of the Centenary

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

Story

Archaeological studies show that the territory of Liberia has been inhabited since about the 12th century.
From the middle of the XV century. until the end of the 17th century. on the territory of modern Liberia, Portuguese, Dutch and British traders had trading posts. The Portuguese called this region Costa da Pimenta (Pepper Coast) because of the abundance of Meleget peppercorns.
In 1822, on the coast of modern Liberia, the Americans founded a colony of "free people of color." 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 50 US dollars.
In 1824, this colony was named Liberia, and its constitution was adopted. By 1828, settlers captured the entire coast of modern Liberia, as well as parts of the coast of modern Sierra Leone and Côte 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 the "promised land". But they behaved in a peculiar way: when they arrived in Africa, they called themselves Americans. So they were perceived by the inhabitants 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 enmity between the “Americans” from the coast and the “natives” from the hinterland gave rise to the (rather successful) attempts of the Americo-Liberian minority to dominate the local blacks, whom they considered barbarians and inferior people throughout the history of the country.
The authorities of Liberia 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.

20th century

At the start of World War I, 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 sea 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 transfer 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.

1980 Samuel Doe coup

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

At first, the change of power was perceived positively by the citizens, but then the ongoing economic downturn led to a drop in his popularity and a whole series of unsuccessful attempts at military coups. Doe was killed by field commander Prince Johnson, and brutally killed, which was recorded on video.
And after all this, Johnson in 2007 received the post of senator in the government of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, 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, the Charles Taylor group was supported by neighboring states that were involved in the conflict: Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso and Côte d'Ivoire. Military operations were carried out with great cruelty, torture was used. The war caused the transfer of more than half a million refugees to neighboring The result was the signing of a peace agreement and the election of the President of the Republic in 1997, they were won by Charles Taylor.

Charles Taylor
Opponents of Charles Taylor organized an insurrectionary war, several times invaded the territory of Liberia from neighboring countries. In 2002, with the active help and support of Guinean President Lansana Conte, a large opposition movement, LURD, was created, which managed to depose 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 handed over to the Hague Tribunal, which in 2012 found Charles Taylor guilty on 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.

Historically, it so happened that humanity seeks to divide the vast expanses of our planet into separate pieces. In the course of thousands of years of conquest, each nation has secured its own territories - some have more, some have less.

Majority names major countries we studied at school, but few people remember about these states. They do not have huge armies or natural deposits, but are known for their tiny area. This compilation contains the 10 smallest countries in the world!

10 Maldives

This ranking of countries in descending order is headed by . Among the top tiny countries, they have the largest area - 298 km². But in terms of population density, this state can compete with any large country - more than 400 thousand people live here on such an area.

The Maldives consists of 26 atolls, which, in turn, are a chain of 1192 coral islands. The only city in the Maldives is Male, which is also the capital of this country. This amazing archipelago is a unique reef ecosystem, various types fish and marine organisms.

9 Saint Kitts and Nevis

This small country covers an area of ​​261 km² and consists of two islands - St. Kitts and Nevis. It is located in the eastern part of the Caribbean Sea and has the title of the smallest state in the Western Hemisphere. The population of Saint Kitts and Nevis is small - only 50 thousand people.

The state is well known among tourists and the income from this destination is more than 70% of the country's GDP per year. It also processes sugar cane and shellfish. The largest city of this country, and concurrently the capital, is inhabited by 11 thousand people. Saint Kitts and Nesiv have their own army of 300 people.

8 Marshall Islands

The Republic of the Marshall Islands covers an area of ​​181.3 km² of land. It is located in the western part of the Pacific Ocean and is a chain of atoll islands. These islands were discovered in 1526 by Alonso de Salazar, and for many centuries passed as a colony from one country to another.

These 34 atoll islands are a true paradise these days. The territory of the republic has a unique head start and fauna, which, by the way, was almost destroyed by man. In the middle of the 20th century, Americans tested a hydrogen bomb here. The explosion was so powerful that it surpassed Hiroshima by 1000 times. However, local residents managed to slowly restore the ecosystem of the islands.

7 Liechtenstein

The European Principality of Liechtenstein is tiny and very famous in the world. Despite its area of ​​160 km², this state has a very powerful economy and developed industry. It can serve as an example for many powers due to its unique system of government in such a way that the people here lived very well.

Liechtenstein is located in Alpine mountains and borders Switzerland and Austria. The name of the country comes from the ruling dynasty, which has been ruling together with the Landtag for many years. The population of this European country is small - about 36 thousand people.

6 San Marino

On the sixth line of our rating is the state of San Marino, which has an area of ​​​​60 km². It is unique in its location - it borders Italy on all sides. The name of the country was formed from the name of the saint who founded it according to ancient legend- stonemason Marin.

At modern borders San Marino is considered the oldest state in Europe, it was founded in 301. Almost the entire territory of the country (80%) is the foothills of the Apennines, so there is practically no arable land here. The population of the country is 33 thousand people with such a small area. This country has many unique architectural monuments on its territory.

5 Tuvalu

This small state in Polynesia has an area of ​​26 km². It consists of nine coral atolls, four of which make up the Tuvalu archipelago. The discoverer of the islands, Alvaro Mendanya de Neira, called them Lagoons, but they received their name Tuvalu only in 1975.

This a nice place, nevertheless, was ranked among the poorest countries as of 2016. The area of ​​the islands is decreasing from year to year, so in 50 years, according to experts, Tuvalu may completely disappear from the face of the Earth as a state. The population of the country according to the latest data is just over 12 thousand people.

4 Nauru

The dwarf state of Nauru covers an area of ​​21 km² and was very popular in the middle of the 20th century. Such popularity was provided by phosphates, which the territory of this piece of land was full of. But today, only dilapidated mines remain from phosphates, and the country's ecology has been irretrievably damaged even for tourism.

Like the islands of Tuvalu, Nauru is located near the Republic of Kiribati and is located 42 km south of the equator. This country does not have an official capital, and the population is only 10 thousand people. But, unlike Tuvalu, this dwarf country has again begun to develop its economy and increase its birth rate.

3 Monaco

The third line of our rating is occupied by the well-known European Principality of Monaco. Probably everyone has heard about it, despite the fact that it occupies only 2.02 km². The legendary Monaco Grand Prix races are held here, and the casino in Monte Carlo is very famous among gambling enthusiasts.

The population of Monaco (with such and such an area!) Is 38 thousand people. This is a lot, but such popularity has its own explanation. For a long time there was no taxation in Monaco, so many businessmen, wealthy foreigners settled here and founded large companies. Monaco is governed by Prince Albert II, who is assisted by a national council.

2 Vatican

The State of the Vatican, with its tiny area of ​​​​0.44 km², is a very powerful state that decides the fate of many countries for many centuries. The country's population is equal to the number of employees - 836 people. At the same time, the Vatican has no economy, and the country's budget is replenished only through numerous donations from Catholic organizations.

Here is the residence of the Pope - the heart of the Catholic Church. The state is located inside Rome and is directly associated with Italy. But despite the proximity, the Vatican gained its independence in 1929 and has been an independent country ever since. By right, he has the title of the smallest country in the world, but there is another state that should be paid attention to.

1 Order of Malta

And the first place in this list is occupied by the state, which some countries do not recognize as a separate state unit. We are talking about the Order of Malta with a territory of 0.012 km². This Order has about 13,000 members who have the country's passports and use their own currency.

Not all countries recognize the sovereignty of the Order of Malta and consider it only at the level of diplomatic relations. The largest city Orders - Fort St. Angelo, which the country rents from Malta. If you do not take into account the shaky recognition of this sovereignty, then the Order is the smallest state in the world.

All these dwarf states rightfully take their place in the ranking of the smallest countries. They are unique and distinctive, and most of them, despite their small territory, are prosperous countries.