Geography

Côte d'Ivoire has an area of 123,847 square miles (320,763 square kilometers). It is bounded on the north by Mali and Burkina Faso, on the east by Ghana, and on the west by Guinea and Liberia. The Gulf of Guinea forms its southern border.

Along the southern coast is a narrow strip of land marked by sand barriers and lagoons. North of the coastal area lies a forest region. The country's rain forests have been greatly reduced, but they still cover a large area in the southwest. The eastern part of the forest region has been partly cleared to provide land for farming. The northern part of the country consists of savanna grassland, which is favorable for raising cattle.

Most of the western border of Côte d'Ivoire is shaped by mountain ranges. The country's highest point is Mount Nimba at 5,748 feet (1,752 meters). The Bandama is the largest of four major rivers; the others are the Cavalla, Sassandra, and Komoé. The climate is generally hot and humid, especially near the coast. The northern region is drier.

Plants and animals

The tropical rain forest in the south contains valuable timber species, including African mahogany and iroko (or African teak). Among the wildlife are such rare creatures as the giant forest hog, the bongo (a reddish brown antelope), and the manatee, or sea cow. The savanna woodlands in the north have about ten kinds of antelope, as well as lions and elephants.

People and culture

More than 60 ethnic groups live in Côte d'Ivoire. The major groups include the Beti, Senufo, Baule, Malinke, Dan, and Lobi. French and Lebanese make up the largest non-African communities. Much of the population is concentrated in the south.

French is the official language, but more than 60 African languages or dialects are also spoken. Christians form the largest religious group, followed by Muslims. Many people still follow traditional religions, especially in rural areas. The world's largest Roman Catholic church stands in the city of Yamoussoukro.

French culture has influenced much of modern Côte d'Ivoire, but traditional culture remains strong. Several groups are well known for the wooden masks they produce.

Economy

After Côte d'Ivoire achieved independence in 1960, its economy grew more quickly than those of neighboring countries. The country depends heavily on agriculture, which employs more than half of the labor force. Cocoa beans, from which cocoa and chocolate are made, are the main export crop. Coffee, tropical woods, petroleum, and fish are other leading exports. Palm oil, cotton, bananas, and pineapples are also important.

History

People have lived in what is now Côte d'Ivoire for thousands of years, but little is known about the area's original inhabitants. Important kingdoms existed in the region for centuries before Europeans arrived in the 15th century. European traders came to the region to deal in ivory and slaves. The French established trading posts there at the end of the 17th century. In 1893 Côte d'Ivoire became a French colony. Full French military occupation of the colony was completed in 1918.

The French contributed to the economic development of the colony but gave the Ivorians few political rights. After World War II Côte d'Ivoire, along with the other French colonies in West Africa, demanded independence. Côte d'Ivoire gained independence in 1960.

The country's first president was Félix Houphouët-Boigny. Under his leadership Côte d'Ivoire kept close ties with France, and the country's economy grew steadily. When Houphouët-Boigny died in 1993, Henri Bédié became president. In the late 1990s many Ivorians became unhappy with Bédié's policies and with a downturn in the economy. On December 24, 1999, the military overthrew Bédié. This was the first time in the country's history that the military removed the president from office. The military ruled Côte d'Ivoire until a new president was elected in 2000. The election was marred by violence. Population (2001 estimate), 16,393,000.