Liberia is a country with a complex and rich history. We will talk about some fascinating and important things about Liberia in this article.
Introduction
Liberia is a country located in the West African region of Africa. It shares a border with Sierra Leone on the northwest, Guinea to the north, and shares border with Ivory Coast on the east. The Atlantic Ocean is located on its south and southwest.
Moreover, the country has a population of over 5 million people. Liberia’s official language is English. The country is rich in ethnicity and culture, and over 20 indigenous languages are spoken. Monrovia is the capital and largest city. Liberia has an area of 111,369 kilometers squares.
Furthermore, Liberia was the first African country to get independence and it is Africa’s oldest modern republic. Liberia was the first African country to have had two female head of states; Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Ruth Perry.
Here Are 15 Outstanding Things About Liberia You Need To Know;
Iron Ore
Liberia is blessed with abundant mineral resources. Iron ore deposit is one of the important mineral resources for Liberia. As of 2016, it contributed 30% of the country’s total exports.
The large extraction of iron ore by foreign companies has relegated other potential mineral deposits. However, the decrease in global iron prices has lowered Liberia’s iron ore production and exports over the years. As a result, many foreign companies have scaled down operations.
One of the largest producers of iron ore globally, Arcelo Mittar has iron and metallurgical coal reserves in Liberia. The reserves are located at the Mount Nimba range, the northern part of the country. Furthermore, mineral deposits such as bauxite, manganese, zinc, uranium, etc. are found in Liberia.
In addition, Liberia is also filled with diamond deposits like alluvial and artisans.
Monrovia
Monrovia is the capital city of Liberia. It is the biggest city in the country. The capital was founded in 1822, as it was named in honor of the then-American President, James Monroe. This is because he was a prominent and real supporter of the freedom of Liberia. As a result, Washington D.C, and Monrovia are the two world capitals named after an American president.
Monrovia is the administrative, cultural, economic, and financial center of the country. It is the seat of the Liberian government. Furthermore, Monrovia’s economy is its harbor, the Freeport of Monrovia. This harbor was largely expanded by the American forces during World War II. Iron ore and latex are being exported via this harbor.
In addition, there are facilities in the harbor that store and repair vessels. Also, materials which include food products, refined petroleum, furniture, chemicals, and tiles are manufactured in the harbor. The Monrovia harbor is situated on Bushrod Island between the Mesurado and Saint Paul rivers.
As of 2022, there are over 1.7 million people in Monrovia, i.e., 33.5% of the country’s population.
Sapo National Park
Sapo National Park is the first and largest rainforest in the country. It is located in the Sinoe County of Liberia. Moreover, the national park has the second-largest primary tropical forest in the West African region in terms of area, only behind the Tai National Park of Ivory Coast.
Furthermore, activities such as construction, fishing, agriculture, logging, and human settlement are not allowed in the park. According to Conservation International, the Sapa National Park has the highest diversity of mammal species of any region globally.
In addition, the park has over 100 types of mammals and 590 types of birds. There are endemic species such as the African golden cat and the pygmy hippopotamus. Crocodiles, leopards, three species of pangolin, and 7 species of monkey can all be found at the park.
However, UNESCO hasn’t recognized it as a World Heritage Site yet.
George Weah
George Manneh Oppong Weah is a famous Liberia politician, who spent the early years of his career in professional football at the top level. He is the latest ex. President of Liberia. He became the President of Liberia in 2018 and left office early this year.
In his 18-year-old professional football career, he spent 14 years playing for European clubs. He played for Arsenal (England) Paris Saint Germain (France), AC Milan (Italy), Monaco (France), and Manchester City (England). And the remaining 4 years playing for Al Jazeera in UAE. Weah is one of the great players that never won the Uefa Champions League. However, he won the Balon d’Or and was named FIFA World Player of the Year once. He is the only African to have won these two coveted awards.
Furthermore, he won the African Player of the Year twice. In 1996, he was awarded the African Footballer of the Century. Weah was popular for his dribbling skills, speed, and acceleration. In 2004, Pele named him in the FIFA 100 list of the World’s living greatest football players.
He made a statement in the political landscape of his country when he created his own political party, Congress for Democratic Change. Weah ran unsuccessfully for the presidential seat and vice Presidential seat in 2005 and 2011 respectively.
He was elected into the Liberian senate representing Monteserrado County in 2014. He was elected as the President of the country in 2017. However, he lost his re-election bid to Joseph Bokai, who lost the presidential election to Weah in 2017.
Cavalla River
Cavalla River is the longest river in the country. It was named after a fish, called the Cavalla. The river originates from Mount Richard-Morland in Guinea and passes through Ivory Coast to Zwedru city in Liberia. It goes back to the border with Ivory Coast and ends at the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean.
Furthermore, the Cavalla River is 515 kilometers long on the Liberia-Ivory Coast border. The river is also known as Cavally, the Diougou, and the Youbou.
Houses Are Built With Sun-Dried Clay With Iron Roof.
Construction of houses in Liberia is commonly done with sun-dried local clay. The sun-dried local clay bricks used are plastered.
Furthermore, the roofs are always made with galvanized and corrugated iron. The houses built with clay are always square-shaped. In addition, the roof is well crafted to let out water when it pours. As a result, the slanted roof keeps out the water easily.
Long before then, the roofs were made of grass to keep the interiors of the home cool, However, the iron roofs were chosen instead.
Its Official Language is English
The official language of Liberia is English. English is the language used in school, government, finance, and medicine.
However, there are over 20 indigenous languages in Liberia. Amongst them is the Liberian Kreyol, which is the unofficial local language. Furthermore, Liberian Kyreole is widely spoken as the second language in the country.
Other Liberian indigenous languages include Bassa, Gio, Mano, Kpelle, etc.
The Liberian Flag
The Liberia flag is one of the national symbols of Liberia. It is often referred to as ” Lone Star”. The flag has a striking resemblance to the flag of the United States of America. The flag signifies the black slaves from America and the Caribbean that founded Liberia
Furthermore, the 11 recurring stripes of red and white signify the 11 signers of the Declaration of the Liberian Independence. In addition, the flag is characterized by a blue square and white star in the center, as it represents the hope of freedom for the African continent.
Liberia is divided into 15 counties. Each of these counties has its own flag. Every county bears the Liberian flag in the canton. As a result, the county flags are up in the regional offices along with the national flag at the executive mansion. Liberia’s motto is “The Love of Liberty brought us here”.
ACS Founded Liberia
Liberia was the territory acquired for America Slaves in 1821. The land was established by the Free People of Colour of the United States. For a good 17 years, Liberia was controlled by the Americans.
However, Liberia got partial independence through a commonwealth declaration a year later in 1839. Liberia became a totally free nation on the 26th of June, 1847.
Despite the country gaining freedom in 1847, the European nations still see Liberia as an American colony. As a result, political theorists say Liberia hid from colonization when the Europeans were on the lookout for African countries that were yet to be colonized in the 1880s. Therefore, Liberia and Ethiopia are the only African countries that Europeans didn’t colonize.
Liberia is the oldest republic on the African continent.
Imperial Measurement System
Liberia is one of the three countries in the world that don’t use the International System of Units (SI). The other countries that don’t use SI Units are the United States of America and Myanmar. Liberia and these two countries don’t use the Metric System that the whole world uses.
Moreover, Liberia uses the Imperial Measurement System because of the close ties it has with America.
Home To Endangered Animals
Many rare and endangered animals can be found in Liberia. Diana Monkey, the Western Chimpanzee, the Pygmy Hippopotamus, and the Upper Guinea Red Colobus. Moreover, Liberia is providing an enabling environment to protect these endangered species. The country has employed Forestry Development Authority Rangers to oversee the areas and also to train the members of the community on the collection and security of wildlife.
Furthermore, the Liberia Chimpanzee Rescue and Protection and Libassa Wildlife Sanctuary are two of the rescue efforts put in place to conserve these species.
Robertsport
Robertsport in the North West of Liberia has a local surfing community, which attracts people from all over the world. Moreover, Robertsport is a fishing village on the outskirts of Monrovia.
Furthermore, various guest houses like Philip’s Guesthouse, Nana’s Lodge, and Vartilda’s Guesthouse are situated on the beach in Robersport close to the Robersport Surf Club. The Robertsport Surf Club takes surf lessons, prepares food, and offers board rentals, and camping.
African’s Cleanest Cities
In Africa, Liberia has the cleanest cities on the continent of Africa according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The World Health Organization tracked the air quality at 1,622 modern cities in 92 countries. Pakistan’s urban areas, on average, are the most polluted in the world, followed closely by its Asian counterparts, Qatar and Afghanistan respectively.
In Europe, the most polluted cities are in Turkey, Serbia, and Bulgaria. On the African continent, Liberia has the cleanest cities. Furthermore, on the ranking, Liberia is ranked 10th ahead of Japan, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
Tourism Is Still Underdeveloped
Liberia has no developed tourist centers that are at world standard yet. The people who end up going there for tourism are either faced with power outages or bad infrastructure.
Furthermore, the only proper hotels are situated in the country’s capital, Monrovia. But these hotels are accompanied by bad roads. Tourism is not taken seriously in Liberia. As of 2016, the authorities at the immigration center didn’t understand the concept of tourism. The concept of tourism was reportedly said to be a mystery in the country. However, that has changed now as they are one of the top emerging tourist countries on the continent.
As a result, Liberia hosts the ‘West Africa Cycle Challenge’ that takes riders from Sierra Leone to the capital, Monrovia. The purpose is to raise funds for the ‘Street Child’. Cycling in Liberia is surreal, as you can have a cycling holiday in the country.
It’s A Bird Haven
Liberia is home to 700 bird species. Many of the birds are there year in, year out whilst few go on travel for better weather conditions.
Moreover, the bee warbler is among those bird species. The country is really a bird haven.
Conclusion
Hope you have learned some important things about Liberia, and how it is one of the coolest places in Africa to be.
