Liberia

Liberia

AREA	97,754 sq km (37,743 sq miles).
POPULATION	2,879,000 (1997).
POPULATION DENSITY	29.5 per sq km.
CAPITAL	Monrovia.
CAPITAL POPULATION	668,000 (1990).
GEOGRAPHY	Liberia borders Sierra Leone, Guinea Republic and Côte d'Ivoire. The Atlantic coastline to the west is 560km (348 miles) long, of which over half is sandy beach. Lying parallel to the shore are three distinct belts. The low coastal belt is well watered by shallow lagoons, tidal creeks and mangrove swamps, behind which rises a gently undulating plateau, 500-800m (1640-2625ft) high, partly covered with dense forests. Inland and to the north is the mountain region which includes Mount Nimba at 1752m (5748ft) and Waulo Mountain at 1400m (4593ft). About half the country's population are rural dwellers.
GOVERNMENT	Republic. Gained independence from the USA in 1847. Head of State and Government: President Charles Ghankay Taylor since 1997.
LANGUAGE	English is the official language. The main local languages are Bassa, Dan (Gio), Kpelleh, Kru, Lorma and Mano.
RELIGION	Officially a Christian state, with more than 30 denominations represented; Islam is practised in the north and traditional animist beliefs exist throughout the country.
STANDARD TIME	GMT.
ELECTRICITY	110 volts AC, 60Hz.

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