Geography of Equatorial Guinea: relief, climate, population, flora and fauna. Regulatory authorities and the judiciary of Guinea

CLIMATE, WEATHER

Guinea

Guinea is located in West Africa and borders Mali, Liberia, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Côte d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone. The western shores of the country are washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. On an area of ​​245.8 thousand km², 13.2 million people live in Guinea. More than 50% of the territory of the state is occupied by plateaus and low mountains. The coast is represented by a flat lowland, which is partially occupied by mangroves. In the center of Guinea is the mountainous plateau of Phuta Djallon. To its east, shrouds and hills stretch along the Niger Basin. The southeastern part of Guinea is occupied by tropical forests. Near the border with Liberia there are blocky highlands and the highest point of the country - Mount Nimba (1752 m). Guinea is characterized by an equatorial monsoon climate with pronounced dry (November - April) and rainy (May - October) seasons. About 1500 mm of precipitation falls in the inland regions, and more than 4000 mm on the coast. Guinea is warm all year round and average temperatures range from +18 °C to +27 °C. In cities that are located in the lowlands, it is 3-4 ° C warmer. In January and February, a dry hot wind "harmattan" blows from the north and the thermometer can jump up to +38 ° C. Guinea attracts tourists with picturesque landscapes, dense jungles, rich museum collections and excellent beaches. The most popular cities in the country include Kankan, Faranah, Labe, Dalaba and Conakry. The best time to visit Guinea is during the dry season. To determine the dates of travel, check out the weather calendar by month.

Weather in Guinea in January In January, sunny weather sets in, air humidity is 66% and rains are very rare. During the day the thermometer shows +27 °C…+29 °C, and at night +19 °C…+26 °C. On the coast, daytime temperatures rise above +30 °C, and nighttime temperatures rarely fall below +24 °C. The ocean warms up to +27 °C…+29 °C. At this time, it is comfortable to attend excursions and relax on the beach.

Weather in Guinea in February Humidity increases to 69%. It is sunny and dry on the coast, and in the east and in the center there are up to four rainy days, during which about 45 mm of precipitation falls. Average temperatures range from +28 °C to +30 °C. In the west, the thermometer during the day jumps above +34 °C, and in the north, due to hot winds, it rises above +37 °C. The nights are warm (+23°C…+28°C) and the water temperature does not drop below +27°C.

Weather in Guinea in March In the north and inland, the temperature rises to +34 °C ... +38 °C during the day, and rarely drops below +24 °C at night. It is sunny on the coast and the thermometer shows +28 °C…+36 °C during the day. The ocean warms up to +29 °C. With an air humidity of about 70%, a maximum of 115 mm of precipitation falls per month, most of which goes to the eastern regions.

Weather in Guinea in April

This is the hottest month of the year with average temperatures of +26°C…+30°C. In the center, daytime temperatures sometimes rise to +39 °C, and on the coast to +33 °C. The nights are warm (+25°C…+28°C) and the water temperature stays at +27°C…+30°C. Humidity rises to 72% and there are 2-3 rainy days per month. About 20 mm of precipitation falls in the west, and up to 160 mm in the east.

Weather in Guinea in May In May there are up to 20 cloudy days and during 3-5 of them it rains. Up to 175 mm of precipitation falls per month. In the interior and in the north, the thermometer shows +29 °C…+38 °C during the day and +25 °C…+28 °C at night. On the coast, the air warms up to +28 °C ... +33 °C, and the water up to +29 °C.

Weather in Guinea in June The average temperature decreases by 2-3 °C and the number of rainy days reaches eleven. Relative humidity is 81% and up to 380 mm of precipitation falls per month. Now it rains more often in the west than in the southeast. On the coast, daytime temperatures are kept at +27 °C…+30 °C, and at night +24 °C…+26 °C. The ocean is as warm as ever (+27°C to +29°C). In the north, the thermometer jumps up to +34 ° C.

Weather in Guinea in July This is the rainiest month, during which up to 1130 mm of precipitation falls on the coast. Almost all of July, the sun hides behind the clouds here. In other regions, the amount of precipitation does not exceed 250 mm. Average daytime air temperatures are kept within +27 °C…+29 °C, and nighttime temperatures are +22 °C…+25 °C. The water warms up to +28 °C, but because of the rain the beaches are empty.

Weather in Guinea in August In most cities during the day the thermometer shows +23 °C…+27 °C, and at night it drops to +19 °C…+22 °C. In the west and north it is 3-4 °C warmer. Humidity rises to 85% and more than 1000 mm of precipitation falls on the coast in 15-20 rainy days. In the rest of the territory, rainy days are 3 times less. The water temperature is kept at +25 °C…+27 °C.

Weather in Guinea in September In the north and inland, the thermometer shows +27 °C ... +30 °C during the day, and + 26 °C ... +29 °C on the coast. The average night temperature is +25 °C. The maximum number of rainy days is reduced to twelve, and the amount of precipitation to 620 mm. Humidity is kept at 84%. The ocean is as warm as in August (+27 °C).

Weather in Guinea in October The sky can be cloudy for half of October, but the air humidity drops to 81% and a maximum of 290 mm of precipitation falls on 5 rainy days. On the coast, the thermometer rises to +32 °C, and the water warms up to +29 °C. By the end of the month, more and more vacationers appear on the beaches. The east is a couple of degrees cooler, and the north is warmer.

Weather in Guinea in November Average temperatures are +26 °C at night and +29 °C during the day. On the coast, the sun shines almost all days and the thermometer shows from +28 °C to +33 °C. The water temperature does not fall below +27 °C and is comfortable for swimming. Humidity is kept at the level of 78% and from 10 to 75 mm of precipitation falls per month. The high season is starting.

Weather in Guinea in December Clear weather finally sets in and for the whole month there is a maximum of one rainy day. The coast beckons with an air temperature of +29 °C…+35 °C and a warm ocean (+27 °C…+29 °C). In the north and in the center, the thermometer rises to +34 °C, and in the southeast to +30 °C. Night temperatures reach up to +28 °C. Humidity is about 70%. December and January are the most popular months to travel to Guinea.

Equatorial Guinea is located just north of the equator off the coast of the Gulf of Biafra (part of the Gulf of Guinea) of the Atlantic Ocean. Includes the mainland of Rio Muni, stretching for 130 km. along the coast and for 300 km. inland, and several islands from the Bioko group 40 km. off the coast of Cameroon in the Bay of Biafra, (with a total area of ​​about 2 thousand square kilometers), the largest of which is Macias-Nguema-Biyogo. Most of the surface of the continental part is a volcanic highland 600-900 m high (the highest height is 1200 m), along the coast there is a strip of low plains. It borders Cameroon and Gabon.

Administratively, the country is divided into seven provinces. Area - 28,051 sq. km, of which 2034 sq. km falls on the islands of Bioko and Annobón. Mainland Mbini borders Cameroon to the north and Gabon to the east and south. Population - 454 thousand people (1998). The capital - the city of Malabo (former Santa Isabel, 10 thousand inhabitants) is located on the island of Bioko. The city of Bata (17 thousand inhabitants) is the largest in Mbini.

Most of the surface of the continental part is highlands with a height of 600-900 m (the highest is 1200 m), along the coast there is a strip of low plains. There are large deposits of oil (50 million barrels, 1999), gas and untapped reserves of gold, iron ore, manganese, tantalum and uranium. The soils are predominantly red-yellow lateritic.

Bioko and Annoban are mountainous islands of volcanic origin, with fertile soils. On the island of Bioko is the highest point in the country, Mount Malabo (3008 m). In Mbini, the coastal plain borders a highland 600–900 m high (tops up to 1500 m).

The river network is dense and deep. The rivers are rapids, navigable only in the lower reaches. The largest river - Mbini - is replete with reaches and waterfalls, accessible to small vessels only in the lower reaches.

The climate of Equatorial Guinea

Equatorial, hot and constantly humid. The average annual temperature is from +24 C to +28 C in different areas, precipitation is up to 2000 mm. per year (on the islands - reaches 2500 mm), rainy days per year - up to 160. On the Bioko islands, the rainy season lasts from July to January, while on the mainland there are much less showers - a maximum from April to May and from October to December .

Statistical indicators of Equatorial Guinea
(as of 2012)

Relatively drier months are May-September and December-January. On the coast of the island of Macias-Nguema-Biyogo, in the highlands, the average annual temperature is lower - up to +18 C, and the amount of precipitation increases to 2500-4000 mm. in year. It's even colder in the highlands. The best time to visit Equatorial Guinea is between November and April.

Flora and fauna of Equatorial Guinea

Vegetation - evergreen moist equatorial forests on red-yellow laterite soils. In the forests grows St. 150 valuable species of trees - oil and coconut palms, iron tree, okume, etc. Ficuses and breadfruit also grow on the territory of the state. The animal world is rich and varied. Characteristic representatives of the animal world of the state are the leopard, crocodile, buffalo, hippopotamus, rhinoceros, antelope, a large number of snakes. The world of birds is diverse (parrots, hornbills, turacos, hoopoes), and there are also many animals from foxes, squirrels, monkeys (including rare species).

Population of Equatorial Guinea

In 1983, 304 thousand people lived in Equatorial Guinea, of which 57 thousand lived on the island of Bioko and 2 thousand on the island of Annobone. By 1998 the population had risen to 454,000 people. The population is dominated by Bantu-speaking peoples. In the hinterland of Bioko live Bubi, who are the indigenous people of the island. Died out from alcoholism and various diseases during the colonial period, they gradually restore their numbers. In the early 1990s, 15,000 Bubis lived in the country. About 3/4 of the population of Mbini is the Fang people, who managed to preserve the ethnic community and traditional institutions of power. Previously, these people lived in villages, in the 1960s they began to move to the administrative centers of the hinterland - Mikomeseng, Niefang, Ebebiyin and Mongomo, as well as to coastal cities. In the early 1990s, the Fang made up 80–90% of the population of the largest city, Mbini, and several other cities. In the 1970s, some Fang were forcibly brought to Bioko Island to replace foreign workers expelled from Equatorial Guinea. The coastal tribes of the Kombu, Buheba and Benga gradually lost their former influence, who were intermediaries in trade between the Europeans and the Fang who inhabited the hinterland. Among the country's other ethnic groups stand out the Fernandino, descendants of English-speaking freed slaves who settled in Bioko in the 19th century.

Until the 1970s, numerous foreign communities found shelter in Equatorial Guinea, including approx. 40,000 migrants from Nigeria who worked on cocoa plantations in Bioko and logging in Mbini. In the mid-1970s, under pressure from the authorities, Nigerians, who made up 2/3 of the population of Bioko and a significant part of the population of Mbini, were forced to leave the country. In 1960, approx. 7 thousand Europeans, mostly Spanish businessmen, civil servants and missionaries. At that time, they almost completely controlled the economic life of the country. Shortly after the declaration of independence, only approx. 200 people. In 1979, the Spaniards began to return to Equatorial Guinea, and in 1980 there were 4,000 of them.

Several African languages ​​are spoken in the country, the most important of which are Fang and Bubi. Pigginized English is spoken by Fernandino. Most of the population speaks Spanish, the official language of the country. The inhabitants of the country profess mainly Catholicism.

Guinea is a state in West Africa. In the north it borders on Guinea-Bissau, Senegal and Mali, in the east and southeast - on Côte d'Ivoire, in the south - on Liberia and Sierra Leone. In the west it is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

The name of the country comes from the Berber iguawen - "mute".

Capital: Conakry.

Square: 245857 km2.

Population: 7614 thousand people

Administrative division: The state is divided into 8 provinces.

Form of government: Republic.

Head of State: President elected for a term of 5 years.

Big cities: Cancan, Labe, Nzerekore.

Official language: French.

Religion: 85% are Sunni Muslims.

Ethnic composition: 35% - Fulani, 30% - Malinke, 20% - Su-Su, 15% - other tribes.

Currency: Frank = 100 centimes.

Climate

The climate of Guinea varies depending on the topographic zones, mainly subequatorial. In the coastal strip, the average annual temperature is + 27 °С, in Phuta Djallon - about + 20 °С, in upper Guinea + 21 °С. The hottest month of the year is April, while the rainiest months are July and August. The rainy season lasts from April-May to October-November. On the coast for 170 rainy days a year, up to 4300 mm of precipitation falls, in the interior - no more than 1500 mm.

Flora

The vegetation on the territory of Guinea is quite diverse: dense mangrove forests, coconut palm, Guinean oil palm, and other exotic plants grow along the ocean coast. In the region of Upper Guinea - savannah, and in the region of Lower Guinea - impenetrable jungle.

Fauna

Representatives of the animal world of Guinea, which is quite rich, are an elephant, a leopard, a hippopotamus, a wild boar, a panther, an antelope, many monkeys (especially baboons living) "in herds). A large number of snakes and crocodiles, as well as parrots and banana-eaters (turako) live.

Rivers and lakes. The largest rivers are Bafing, Gambia, Senegal, the Niger River (here it is called Joliba) and Milo originate here.

Attractions

National Museum with a rich collection of exhibits, including historical and ethnographic.

Useful information for tourists

The Republic of Guinea, first of all, attracts visitors with its picturesque elevated landscapes of the Futa Djallon highlands, an excellent road network by African standards (especially in the southeast) and an impressive contrast between the dry northern valleys and the endless jungle in the southern regions.

Nzerekore is the cheapest city in Guinea and the starting point for ecological excursions to the forest zone, famous for its inhabitants - forest elephants, numerous primates, it is also one of the few places in Africa where you can still find a forest leopard. The local market is considered the largest transshipment base for goods from neighboring countries, so you can buy almost everything here at a modest price.

The best time to visit Guinea is during the dry season (from early December to late April), which is pronounced on the coast (Conakry). For a trip to the interior of the country, it is better to choose the beginning of the dry season (December - January). In the southeast, rains begin in March (Beila), and heat reigns throughout the north of the country (Kurussa). The nights here are cooler than in the capital. The dry season is also marked by the Sahara wind "harmattan", which can be felt throughout the country, right up to the coast. The sea temperature is acceptable for swimming throughout the year.

The rainy season is especially noticeable on the coast, especially heavy showers are observed in July-August. In the Phuta Jallon mountains, precipitation is less torrential in nature, and in the north of the country, on the border with Mali, it can be said to be already moderate.

clothing

It should be light and made of natural fabric. Preference should be given to light colors. For the rainy season, a light cape and an umbrella are desirable (but they will not save you from stuffiness).

dangers

Yellow fever vaccination is recommended. Rabies vaccination is desirable for those who have arrived in the country for a long time. The risk of malaria persists throughout the year. Insects are very active constantly after sunset.