Geography

Guinea covers an area of 94,926 square miles (245,857 square kilometers). It borders Guinea-Bissau and Senegal on the north, Mali on the north and east, Côte d'Ivoire on the southeast, and Liberia and Sierra Leone on the south. The Atlantic Ocean is to the west.

Guinea has four geographic regions. A narrow coastal plain borders the Atlantic Ocean. To the east the Fouta Djallon highlands rise sharply from the coastal plain. The highest point in this region is Mount Loura (Tamgué) at 5,046 feet (1,538 meters). West Africa's three major rivers—the Niger, the Gambia, and the Senegal—begin in the Fouta Djallon. Northern Guinea is a lowland region that includes the plains of the Niger River. In the southeast are highlands covered by tropical forests. Mount Nimba, located at the borders of Guinea, Liberia, and Côte d'Ivoire, is Guinea's highest peak at 5,748 feet (1,752 meters).

Guinea has a hot and humid climate with two seasons—a dry winter and a wet summer. The coastal plain receives the most rain.

Plants and animals

Much of Guinea's original forest was cleared to make room for agriculture. However, the country still contains large patches of rain forest with teak, mahogany, and ebony trees. The coast is fringed with mangrove trees. Several types of tall grasses in northern Guinea grow to a height of 5 to 10 feet (1.5 to 3 meters).

Guinea is not rich in the big game animals that are typical of Africa. Baboons, hyenas, and poisonous snakes are common. Wild boar, antelope, and leopards are rarer. A few hippopotamuses and manatees live in the rivers.

People and culture

The largest ethnic group in Guinea is the Fulani. They live mainly in the Fouta Djallon region. The Malinke, who live primarily in northern Guinea, are the next largest group. The Susu are the main group along the coast and on the coastal plain. The forest region in the southeast is home to the Kissi, Loma, and Kpelle peoples. Some Lebanese, Syrian, and French people also live in Guinea. The official language is French, but eight other African languages are also taught in the schools. The majority of the people are Muslim. Most of the rest practice traditional African beliefs or Christianity.

Since 1984, when the army overthrew the repressive government, people in Guinea have enjoyed greater freedom of expression. A distinct Guinean literature is gradually growing. The country has achieved international recognition for its music and dance. The National Guinean Ballet has successfully toured the world.

Economy

Guinea's economy is based largely on agriculture, mining, and trade. About 80 percent of the people work in agriculture. The main food crops include rice, cassavas, sweet potatoes, yams, and corn (maize). Large herds of cattle, sheep, and goats are raised. Guinea's major cash crops are bananas, coffee, pineapples, oil palms, and peanuts (groundnuts). The fishing industry is small but has great potential for growth.

Mining accounts for most of Guinea's exports. The country is among the world's top producers of bauxite, which is used to make aluminum. Guinea also has large reserves of iron ore, gold, and diamonds. Industry in the country is limited to light manufacturing and the processing of agricultural products.

History

Hunting and gathering peoples lived in the Guinea area at least 30,000 years ago. Farming has been practiced there for about 3,000 years. About 1,000 years ago the Susu and Malinke people began moving onto the land. In the middle of the 13th century the towns and villages of northern Guinea were made part of the Mali Empire. By the 16th century the Fulani dominated the Fouta Djallon region.

The Portuguese arrived on the coast in the 15th century. They developed the slave trade, which continued in Guinea until the mid-19th century. Around this time French influence grew in the region. In 1849 the French proclaimed its control over the coastal region. By 1890 the whole territory was a French colony known as French Guinea. In 1895 it was made part of the colonial territory called French West Africa.

Guinea achieved independence from France in 1958. The country's first president was Sékou Touré. He ruled the country as a dictator, brutally suppressing any opposition to his power. After Touré's death in 1984, the army took control of the government. The new leaders tried to reverse Touré's unsuccessful economic policies and to improve the country's relations with other countries. Guinea's first democratic elections were held in 1993. The military leaders were elected and remained in power into the 21st century. During the 1990s Guinea took in hundreds of thousands of people fleeing warfare in neighboring Liberia and Sierra Leone. Population (2000 estimate), 7,466,000.