Geography

Liberia is a small nation on the west coast of Africa. It covers an area of 38,250 square miles (99,067 square kilometers). Liberia is bounded by Guinea on the north, Sierra Leone on the northwest, Côte d'Ivoire on the east, and the Atlantic Ocean on the south and west.

Along the Atlantic coast of Liberia is a strip of low, sandy plains. Farther inland are hills and low mountains. The hills and parts of the mountains are heavily forested. Near the Guinea border is Mount Nimba, the highest peak in Liberia at 4,540 feet (1,380 meters). The country's major rivers include the Cavalla, Mano, Morro, St. Paul, St. John, and Cestos. The climate is warm and humid year-round. Rainfall is heavy in the summer.

Plants and Animals

About 20 percent of Liberia is covered with tropical rain forest. The country's rich wildlife includes monkeys, chimpanzees, antelopes, snakes, and elephants. The rare pygmy hippopotamus and manatee are also found there.

People and Culture

Most of the people of Liberia are black Africans. They belong to a number of ethnic groups, including the Kpelle, Vai, Bassa, Grebo, Kru, Gola, and Kissi. Liberians of black American ancestry, known as Americo-Liberians, make up most of the rest of the population. They are related to the freed slaves who migrated to Liberia in the 19th century.

The majority of Liberians practice traditional African religions. Christians and Muslims also are large religious groups. The country's official language is English, but many ethnic languages are also spoken.

About 45 percent of the people live in cities and towns. Monrovia, the capital, is the country's largest and most developed city. Much of the city was destroyed, however, during a civil war that lasted from 1989 to 1996. Many of its oldest homes, which were modeled after the grand mansions of the U.S. South, did not survive the war. The national university was also destroyed.

Economy

Liberia is a poor nation. More than two thirds of the people work in agriculture. Most farmers grow rice, cassava, and vegetables and raise livestock for themselves and their families. The main cash crops is rubber; others are coffee, cocoa, and oil palm. Liberia is rich in natural resources, including iron ore, diamonds, and timber. The country's industries include the processing of rubber and palm oil and some manufacturing. The government is a leading employer.

History

African peoples were living in what is now Liberia when Portuguese explorers began reaching the coast in the 15th century. The area became popular with Portuguese traders because of the spices they found there.

In the early 19th century the region was suggested as a suitable home for freed U.S. slaves. An organization called the American Colonization Society bought land from the local peoples and founded a colony at Cape Mesurado in 1821. The first freed U.S. slaves arrived in 1822. They were followed shortly by Jehudi Ashmun, a white American, who became the director of the settlement and Liberia's real founder. The colony was named Liberia, from the Latin word liber, meaning “free.” The main settlement was named Monrovia after United States President James Monroe. Liberia proclaimed itself an independent republic in 1847. Border disputes with the French and British lasted until 1892, when its boundaries were officially established.

From Liberia's founding, the government was controlled by the country's small population of Americo-Liberians. It kept close ties with the United States, which provided financial help to the country as its economy struggled in the 19th and 20th centuries. During World War II (1939–45) Liberia's rubber became increasingly valuable to the United States. The United States signed a defense agreement that also resulted in the building of roads, an international airport, and a deepwater harbor at Monrovia.

Partly because of continued economic troubles, the military overthrew the government of Liberia in 1980. The coup ended 150 years of dominance by the Americo-Liberians. The new military leaders failed to improve the country's situation, however. In 1989 a group of rebels invaded Liberia from Côte d'Ivoire, starting a vicious civil war. Liberia's president was killed in 1990. The fighting continued until a peace agreement was reached in 1996. Some 200,000 people had been killed. Elections were held in 1997, but the country's slow rebuilding process continued into the 21st century. In 2005 the country elected Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf as president. She was the first woman elected to head an African country. Population (2000 estimate), 3,164,000.