Full description of Guinea. Guinea map in Russian. The capital of Guinea, the flag, the history of the country. Where is Guinea located on the world map Guinea which country
The state is located in West Africa. Guinea in the south borders on Liberia (border length 563 km) and Sierra Leone (652 km), in the east and southeast - on Côte d'Ivoire (610 km), in the north - on Guinea-Bissau (386 km) , Mali (858 km) and Senegal (330 km), in the west Guinea is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.The total length of the border is 3,399 km, the length of the coastline is 320 km.
On the territory of Guinea, the maximum amount of precipitation for the whole of West Africa falls (more than 3,000 mm per year). Two seasons are clearly visible here: the summer rainy season lasting up to 7 months and the dry winter season with dry dusty winds. The average air temperature throughout the year is around +26°C.
History
The ancient history of Guinea has not been studied. In the Middle Ages, some parts of present-day Guinea were part of the empires of Ghana (VIII-IX centuries) and Mali (XIII-XV centuries). At that time, the territory of Guinea was inhabited by various tribes, the most numerous were Mandinka, Dialonke, Susu.
In the 16th century, Fulbe nomadic herders settled on the Futa-Jallon plateau. In the 1720s, the Islamized top of the Fulbe started a war against the Dyalonke, as well as against the pagan Fulbe. This war ended mostly in the late 1770s. As a result, the early feudal state of the Fulbe, Futa-Jallon, was created.
In the XIX century, the penetration of the French into Guinea began. They tried to organize trade relations with the locals, but often this ended in the destruction of European merchants. Since 1865, France began to build forts and fortified posts on the Pepper Coast (in southern Guinea) to protect merchants. The French tried to conclude non-aggression pacts with the leaders of local tribes.
In 1897, France entered into an agreement with the ruler of Futa-Jallon on a protectorate. In 1898-1894. approximately in the territory of modern Guinea there was a French colony of the Rivière du Sud.
At the end of the 19th century, French Guinea was colonized and since 1904 was part of the federation of French West Africa.
French colonization of Guinea proceeded slowly. Only after the end of the First World War there began the creation of plantations of bananas, pineapples, coffee. However, the plantation economy has not received much development. Industry also developed slowly in Guinea - only on the eve of the Second World War did the first mining enterprises and small workshops of the manufacturing industry appear there.
In a referendum in 1958, the Guinean people voted for independence, which was declared on 2 October. Guinea, like other French colonies that gained independence, was proclaimed a Republic.
Ahmed Sekou Toure was elected President of the Republic, who established a one-party system in the country, backed by a powerful repressive apparatus. In the field of foreign policy, he followed a moderately pro-Soviet course, and in the field of domestic policy he was an adherent of scientific socialism with African characteristics. The result of this strategy was the total socialization of property; at some stages, even the number of merchants in the bazaars was regulated by order. By the beginning of the 1980s, about a million residents of the country had migrated abroad.
After the death of Ahmed Sekou Toure in 1984, a military group seized power, creating the Military Committee of National Revival, headed by Colonel Lansana Conte, who eliminated the main competitors in the struggle for power over the next three years. Under President Lansan Conte, foreign policy was oriented towards greater cooperation with France, the United States, Great Britain, the country began to enjoy the support of international financial organizations. A side effect of the weakening of political control was a massive increase in corruption, during the reign of President Conte, Guinea became one of the world leaders in this indicator.
At the end of the 1980s, the process of democratization of political life began, and elections have been held regularly since the beginning of the next decade. Lansana Conte won the presidential elections three times (in 1993, 1998, 2003), and his Unity and Progress Party won the parliamentary elections, although each round was accompanied by powerful opposition protests, to which local power ministries traditionally react very harshly.
The continuing deterioration of the economic situation in the country led to mass demonstrations in 2007 demanding the resignation of the government and the adoption of urgent measures to bring the country out of the crisis. As a result of negotiations between the authorities and the trade union movement, the post of prime minister was handed over to a compromise candidate with a mandate until the next elections scheduled for mid-2008.
On Monday, December 22, 2008, the President of the Republic of Guinea, Lansana Conte, died suddenly and, according to the Constitution, his duties were transferred to the President of the National Assembly (that is, the Chairman of Parliament) Abubacar Sompara, who was to conduct elections for a new President of the Republic within 60 days. However, on December 23, 2008, a few hours after the death of President Lansan Conte, a group of military men who declared themselves the National Council for Democracy and Development, NCDD (French: Conseil national pour la d?mocratie et le d?veloppement, CNDD), committed a state coup. On 24 December 2008, the duties of the President of the Republic were handed over to Captain Mousse Dadi Kamara by agreement between the government of Prime Minister Ahmed Tidiane Souare and the military, who established the National Council for Democracy and Development. Moussa Dadi Kamara's term of office is two years, until the end of December 2010, when free elections are to be held.
On September 28, 2009, the opposition organized a protest rally in the country's capital against Moussa Camara's intention to run for the 2010 presidential election. The ruling junta crushed the rally with tear gas and live weapons, killing 157 and injuring more than 1,200 people.
Sights of Guinea
Almost the entire surface of Guinea is covered with mountain peaks, various rivers and dense forests.
On the border of two states and rises 1000 meters Mount Nimba. By the way, it is here that the Mount Nimba nature reserve is located.
This reserve would have been opened back in 1944 and, oddly enough, iron ore was mined here, which is in abundance here. However, already in 1981, a decree was issued banning any work on this territory, except for scientific research. Therefore, the Mount Nimba Reserve was included in UNESCO as a protected site that is in danger.
In this area very often there are biologists and zoologists who study these places.
On the slopes of Mount Nimba you can find dense forests and mountain meadows. This attraction is surprising in that there are about 1000 plant species, of which 25 are not found anywhere on earth. There are also about 1000 varieties of fauna, and again, most of them are not found on the planet. This is the antelope, leopard, pygmy monkeys, etc.
Center Conakry quite modern and is a complex of office and banking buildings between Rue du Niger and Ave de la República. The National Museum has a large collection of masks, sculptures and national instruments, housed in a spacious display building in the style of the Parisian Louvre. Opposite the Presidential Palace (the former headquarters of the OAU), there are about 50 picturesque Moorish-style villas currently used as offices of several international organizations. The huge People's Palace in the northern part of Roux du Niger is the site of traditional performances by two local ballet theaters and the site of numerous festive ceremonies.
10 km. located from the capital Ile de los- a group of small islands in the Atlantic Ocean, a favorite resort area for residents and guests of Conakry, with a completely modern water center and regular mini-cruises on boats to a picturesque beach in the Novotel area, and just a good place to spend a weekend.
Phuta Jallon Plateau- one of the main natural attractions of the country along with the Bafara waterfall and the Fuyama rapids. Located 220 km. northeast of the capital and connected to it by a good road, it attracts thousands of tourists with its emerald green vegetation covering picturesque hills (up to 1000 m.), the relative coolness of the local climate, charming villages with friendly inhabitants and very high quality local folk cuisine. The most popular here are the towns of Mamu - the "gate of Futa-Jallon", Dalaba - a former colonial mountain climatic resort with a health center D'Asuel.
Nzerekore- This is the cheapest city in Guinea, located on the border with Liberia. The local market is considered the largest base for goods from neighboring countries, so you can buy almost everything here at a modest price. It is also the starting point for ecological excursions to the forest zone - one of the few places in Africa where you can still meet the leopard, elephant and numerous primates.
Guinean cuisine
The cuisine of the Republic of Guinea is not distinguished by sophistication. She is characterized by simplicity. The composition of Guinean cuisine mainly includes a wide variety of cereals. In addition, various stews are prepared from corn, millet or rice. They are flavored with spices, vegetable seasonings and vegetable oil. Meat side dishes (and just meat) are rarely used in cooking. Seafood and fish are a much more familiar staple for Guineans. The most popular drink in Guinea is milk, which is consumed sour or fresh.
In an area with heavily indented banks. A narrow strip of lowland stretches along the coast, and the farther into the interior of the continent, the higher the relief becomes, rising in uneven ledges, called the Futa-Jallon Plateau. The entire southeast of the country is occupied by the North Guinea Upland, where the Nimba Mountains and the highest peak of the country are located. In the northeast, there is a plain in the basin of the upper reaches of the Niger River. In general, there are many rivers in the country, but they are all short, swift and blocked by rapids, which is why they are navigable only at the mouth, and even then only a few.
Guinea is hot and humid all year round, so much so that even during the dry season, the humidity in the capital does not fall below 85%.
The vegetation of Guinea has been noticeably changed: for centuries, deforestation has been going on here for shipbuilding and just for firewood. As a result, heavily sparse secondary forests remained in the south and in the center.
The north is a zone of savannas, and stretches of mangrove forests stretch along the coast.
The fauna of Guinea is represented by large mammals (elephant, hippopotamus, leopard, cheetah), many snakes live here, and the scourge of these places is insects that spread fever, malaria and "sleeping sickness". The latter circumstance was the reason that the development of these places by European colonialists was rather slow.
So far, science does not have data on the ancient history of the country. It is known for sure that in the VIII-XI centuries. most of the northeast of modern Guinea was part of the state of Ghana. Even then, gold was mined here, which was exported to the north, to the Sahel states, where they were exchanged for salt and other goods from North Africa.
In the XII century. The empire of Ghana collapsed, in its place the empire of Mali arose, founded by the Malinke people. At the same time, in the 12th century, Islam penetrated and gained a foothold in the territory of modern Guinea. In the XV-XVI centuries. began a massive penetration of Islam from the territory of present-day Mauritania and other countries of the Maghreb.
This stage in the history of present-day Guinea coincided with the appearance of Portuguese, English and French slave traders on its coast. They were attracted by numerous bays and gulfs, where, even after the prohibition of slavery, slave ships hid from British military frigates.
The basis of the current statehood of Guinea and its borders was laid by the Fulbe people, at the beginning of the 18th century. who created on the territory of the Futa-Jallon plateau (where they still live today) a strong Islamic state of the same name.
In the middle of the XIX century. the slave trade began to decline, Europeans began to trade with local tribes, buying peanuts, malagueta peppers, palm oil, skins of wild animals and rubber. They were mostly French, who called this place the Pepper Coast. At first they built forts for their own protection, then they refused to pay tribute to the kings of the local tribes, and when they took up arms, in 1849 France proclaimed all this land its protectorate, and then a colony within French West Africa.
Only in 1958, the popular resistance forces were able to hold a referendum in Guinea for the independence of the country, which was proclaimed in the same year.
The Republic of Guinea is located on the West African coast of the Atlantic Ocean; deep river valleys and rolling low mountains make Guinea look like a mountainous country. The heights gradually rise from the coastal lowlands to a plateau in the interior of the country with a height of over one and a half kilometers.
The Mande and the Fulbe are the two peoples that make up the majority of the country's population. Relations between them are far from simple, and the reasons for this lie in the way of life and history of both peoples.
The majority of the population of Guinea are three peoples: Fulbe (partially retaining a nomadic lifestyle), Malinke (Mandinka) and Susu. Fulbe cattle breeders inhabit mainly the central part of the country, Malinka settled inland areas, mainly in the Niger basin, and Susu - the Atlantic coast. The inter-ethnic contradictions between the rural population speaking the Mande languages and the Fulbe conquering cattle breeders have not been completely eliminated. Thanks to the efforts of international organizations, they have abandoned armed conflicts and are now fighting for political power in the country.
In the cities, communities of a few descendants of French settlers have survived. The legacy of colonial times is French, which has become the language of interethnic communication for the three main peoples of the country, although a relatively small part of the population speaks it. The country pursues a policy of supporting the study of national languages (officially there are eight), for which writing has even been created based on the Latin alphabet.
The vast majority of the population is Muslim, but the traditions of animism and belief in ancestral spirits are very strong and prevalent even in cities.
Guinea is the world center of bauxite mining (the country has the largest reserves of bauxite in the world), large deposits of diamonds, iron ore and other metals have been found here. However, all this is an export product, and the country itself, by all indicators, is one of the poorest in the world.
Most of the local able-bodied population is employed in agriculture, the products of which are consumed right there in the country. Therefore, the bulk of the population is concentrated in the region of the Futa-Dzhallon plateau, where cattle, sheep and goats graze in the mountain meadows of the Fulbe, and various crops are grown in the fertile valleys.
Guinea's economy is suffering from severe deforestation, lack of drinking water, the spread of desert from north to south, significant overfishing and the devastating effects of mining on the environment. The development of the country is also hampered by political instability and the spread of epidemic diseases. The measures taken by the government to solve these problems have not yet given the desired effect.
The country's capital, Conakry, is a major port on the Atlantic coast. It has an unusual location: it is located on the Calum Peninsula and the island of Tombo (Tolebo), connected by a causeway to the mainland, and the island is the central area of the city. The main economic center of the country, most of the industrial enterprises are concentrated here.
Conakry is a relatively young city; modern buildings appeared here only in the 1960s. The main attraction of the city is the Great (Big) Mosque, one of the largest in West Africa, where the burials of the national heroes Samori (circa 1830-1900), Sekou Toure (1922-1984) and Alpha Mo Labe (1850s- 1912). A particularly revered place throughout the country is the Monument to the Victims erected in the city on November 22, 1970, when the Portuguese army occupied Conakry.
The political situation in the country remains unstable, the leaders of the tribes share power by creating their own political parties, the military stage coups, mass strikes and protests of the population periodically sweep across the country.
general information
Location: West Africa.Administrative division: 8 provinces (Boke, Conakry, Faranah, Kankan, Kindia, Labe, Mamu and Nzerekore), 33 prefectures.
Capital: Conakry - 1,886,000 people (2014).
Large cities: Kankan - 472,112 people. (2014), Nzerekore - 280,256 people. (2012), Kindia - 181,126 people. (2008), Farana - 119,159 people. (2013), Labe - 107,695 people. (2007), Mamu - 88,203 people. (2013), Bokeh - 81,116 people. (2007).
Languages: French (official), national (Fula, Mandinka, Susu, Baga, Basari).
Ethnic composition: Fulbe - 40%, Malinka - 26%, Susu - 11%, other - 23%, more than 20 ethnic groups in total (2013).
Religions: Islam - 85%, Christianity (Catholicism, Evangelicalism) - 8%, Animism - 7% (2013).
Currency unit: Guinean franc.
Large rivers: the sources of the Niger and the Gambia, as well as Bafing, Kogon, Konkure, Tomine, Fatala, Forekarya.
Airport: Gbessia International Airport (Conakry).
Neighboring countries and water areas: in the northwest - Guinea-Bissau, in the north - Senegal, in the north and northeast - Mali, in the east - Ivory Coast, in the south - Liberia and Sierra Leone, in the west - the Atlantic Ocean.
Numbers
Area: 245,857 km2.Population: 11,474,383 (2014).
Population density: 46.7 people / km 2.
Employed in agriculture: 76% (2014).
Below the poverty line: 47% (2006).
The length of the land border: 4046 km.
coastline length: 320 km.
highest point: Mount Richard-Molar (Nimba Mountains, 1752 m).
Climate and weather
Equatorial, humid and hot.Seasons: monsoons - June-November, dry - December-May.
Average annual temperature: +27°С on the coast, +20°С in the center (Phuta-Jallon Plateau), +21°С in upper Guinea.
Average annual rainfall: Atlantic coast - 4300 mm, inland areas - 1300 mm.
Relative humidity: 80-85%.
Dusty harmattan wind(West African trade wind).
Economy
GDP: $15.31 billion (2014), per capita $1,300 (2014)
Minerals: bauxites, diamonds, iron, uranium, cobalt, manganese, copper, nickel, pyrite, platinum, lead, titanium, chromium, zinc, rock salt, granite, graphite, limestone.
Industry: metalworking, food (fish canning), chemical, textile, woodworking, cement.
Seaports: Conakry, Kamsar, Benti.
Agriculture: crop production (rice, corn, millet, sorghum, cassava, peanuts, bananas, coffee, pineapples, apples, citrus fruits, strawberries, mangoes, papaya, avocados, guava, cinchona), animal husbandry (semi-nomadic, small cattle).
Sea fishing(mullet, mackerel, stingray, sardinella).
traditional crafts: wood carving (red and black) and bone, straw weaving (bags, fans, mats), weaving, ceramics, leather, metal and stone products, raffia fiber weaving, making musical instruments.
Service sector: tourism, transport, trade.
sights
■ Natural: Phuta Jallon Plateau and Phuta Jallon National Park, Marie, Tinkiso and Bafara Falls, Fuyama Rapids, Caquimbon Caves, Ile de Los Islands, Niger and Gambia Upper Rivers, Nimba, Tange and Gangan Mountains, Nimba Mountains Nature Reserve, Milo River, Tinkiso River Biosphere Reserve, Guinean forest avanna ecological region, Tombo Island.■ City of Conakry: Great (Great) Mosque (1982), Monument to the Victims of November 22, 1970, Saint-Marie Cathedral (1930s), November 8 Bridge, National Museum, Botanical Garden, Presidential Palace, Museum of National Arts , People's Palace, March Madina and Niger Markets, September 28 Stadium, University of Conakry Gamal Abdel Nasser.
Curious facts
■ In order not to confuse Guinea with Guinea-Bissau and Equatorial Guinea, the Republic of Guinea is sometimes referred to by its capital, Guinea-Conakry.■ The name of the state of Guinea comes from the name of the large African geographical region of the same name, in the XIV century. appearing on European maps. Presumably this name comes from a modified Berber word "iguaven" (mute), which the Berbers called the black population south of the Sahara, who did not understand their language.
■ In 1970, during the suppression of the struggle for the independence of the Portuguese colony of Guinea-Bissau, which was supported by Guinea, the Portuguese army captured its capital for one day. The goal was to arrest the leadership of the rebels and weapons depots, as well as the release of Portuguese prisoners of war and the overthrow of Guinean President Ahmed Sekou Toure. The Portuguese plan was partially successful: they failed to overthrow the Sekou Toure regime. This episode remains the only example in recent history when a regular army of a European state captured the capital of an independent African country, even if only for one day.
■ The Guinea Fouta Djallon Plateau has been nicknamed “Water pumping station of West Africa” among geographers: the largest rivers of the region, the Gambia and Senegal, begin here.
■ Travelers note the bright red or red-brown color of the soils of the savannahs and forests of Guinea, rich in iron oxides.
■ Mount Richard Molar is located directly on the border between Côte d'Ivoire and Guinea and is the highest peak in both countries at the same time.
■ Guinean malagueta pepper is actually a plant of the ginger family, whose unusually hot taste is combined with a sharp, sharp aroma peculiar only to this pepper. From the 13th century malagetta began to be used as an independent spice or replacing black pepper in England, and later in Canada, the USA, and Australia.
By now, pepper has displaced malagetta, and now guinea pepper is used only as a local spice in Central Africa and in the United States as a spice to add flavor to liqueurs, vinegar, and even English ale.
■ The Île de Los Archipelago are six islands off the Atlantic coast of Guinea. The islands began to be settled only at the beginning of the 20th century. At first, the British moved here, and then, in exchange for the abandonment of fishing in Newfoundland and Labrador, the French moved here.
Useful information for tourists about Guinea, cities and resorts of the country. As well as information about the population, currency of Guinea, cuisine, visa and customs restrictions of Guinea.
Geography of Guinea
The Republic of Guinea is a country in West Africa. It borders Senegal to the north, Mali to the north and northeast, Cote d'Ivoire to the east, Liberia to the south, Sierra Leone to the southwest, and Guinea to the northwest. -Bissau. From the west it is washed by the Atlantic Ocean.
More than half of the country's territory is occupied by low mountains and plateaus. The Atlantic coast is heavily indented by river estuaries and is occupied by a lowland 30-50 km wide. Further, the Futa-Dzhallon plateau rises in ledges, divided into separate massifs up to 1538 m high (Mount Tamge). Behind it, in the east of the country, there is an elevated stratal plain, to the south of which the North Guinean Upland rises, turning into a plateau (800 m) and blocky uplands (Mount Nimba is the highest point in the country with a height of 1752 m).
State
State structure
Guinea is a presidential republic. The head of state is the president, elected by the people for a seven-year term. The head of government is the prime minister. Parliament is a unicameral National Assembly.
Language
Official language: French
Only a small part of the population speaks French, and the most common languages are Fula, Malinke (in the north), Susu (in the capital area), etc.
Religion
About 90% of the population are Muslims. Most of the rest are adherents of local traditional beliefs and cults.
Currency
International name: GNF
Current banknotes: 100, 500, 1000 and 5000 francs. Coins: 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 francs.
Currency exchange can be done at banks and exchange offices. On the black market, currency exchange is somewhat more profitable than in banks. Checks in French francs and US dollars have the best exchange rates.
Most large hotels, restaurants and shops accept credit cards (mainly American Express, MasterCard and Diners Club), in the provinces their use is difficult. The best place for exchanging traveler's checks is the capital's airport, where the commission is minimal.
Guinea map
Popular Attractions
Guinea Tourism
Where to stay
The hotel sector in Guinea is in need of renovation and construction of new buildings. The government supports projects that attract international investors. In 2011, only two international chains were present in the Guinean tourism market: Accor (Novotel Hotel) and Starwood (Le Meridien Mariador Palace). However, with the growth of the tourist flow, there is a growing need to expand the infrastructure and seriously analyze the prospects for the development of the tourism business. Currently, the lack of proposals in hotels that meet the demand encourages many tourists to look for more affordable accommodation options: apartments, guest houses, villas. Thus, the emergence of international budget hotel operators, such as Ibis, is highly expected on the market in the near future.Popular hotels
Tours and attractions in Guinea
The landscapes of Guinea are impressively beautiful. Guinea is one of the few African countries that has preserved dry and humid tropical forests. Phuta Jalon Falls in the west of the country with breathtaking surroundings is recognized as the best sightseeing route. Guinea does not have many beaches, but the few that it has are excellent and virtually deserted. Like any other capital city, Conakry is known for its vibrant nightlife and is considered the safest city in West Africa. The beauty of Guinea is also evident in its vibrant culture. Tourists attend performances of traditional dance groups and musical groups with great interest.Guinean cuisine
Guinean cuisine is simple. It consists mainly of various cereals and stews made from rice, millet or corn, flavored with vegetable oil, vegetable seasonings and spices. Meat is used very rarely, fish and seafood are much more common in dishes. The most popular drink is milk. It is consumed fresh or pickled.
Tips
Tipping in "western-style" restaurants is 10%, in hotels - 100-200 francs, in small private establishments it is necessary to specify the amount of remuneration for service in each case.
Visa
Office Hours
Banking hours: from 08.30 to 16.00 from Monday to Friday, from 08.30 to 13.00 on Saturday.
Purchases
In the markets and in private shops (except supermarkets), you can bargain.
Guinea is one of the poorest countries in Africa. And, therefore, tourism is very poorly developed here. Small tourists rarely visit this country, as there are practically no sights in the country. The high cost and uncivilized attitude to nature scares off vacationers. The only entertainment that tourists can see is Guinean dances. Tourists can visit the capital of Guinea, Conakry, and see with their own eyes all the poverty and wretchedness of this country. Although the bowels of this African country are rich in diamonds, gold and aluminum ores. Despite the poverty, tourists can taste some of the best coffee in the world.
Guinea was formerly a French colony. Guinea is divided into several geographical regions. Lower Guinea is a plain, Middle Guinea is a mountain plateau, Upper Guinea is a savannah with small hills, the Nimba Range is located in Mountain Guinea. The sources of the African rivers Milo and Niger begin in this country. Tourists wishing to visit Guinea must take into account the very hot subequatorial climate, where rains alternate with drought. Savannahs, mangrove forests, and impenetrable jungles will open for tourists on the ocean coast. The fauna of the animal world is very diverse. You can see antelopes, hippos, parrots and other exotic animals in their natural environment.
Population of Guinea
The population of Guinea is estimated at about 9.8 million people. Guineans live an average of 56 years. Most of the population is illiterate. The official language is French. The national languages are 8 local languages - these are Fulfide, Susu, Kisi, Loma, Kpele, Baga, Kona and Malinke. Thirty percent of the country's population lives in cities. The ethnic composition of the population of Guinea consists of three nationalities - Fulbe, Malinke and Susu. Sunni Islam prevails in the country, it makes up about 85 percent of the population and only 8 percent are Christians, most of the population are supporters of their ancient faith and worship. In the last century, until about the 70s, there were numerous communities of foreigners in Guinea - about 40 thousand migrants from Nigeria, engaged in hard work in cocoa groves in Bioko and logging in Mbini. About 7 thousand Europeans are in Guinea - they are businessmen, civil servants and missionaries. The Spanish diaspora, numbering about four thousand people, also lives in Guinea. Most of the population of Guinea is of the Negroid race. About 30 nationalities live in the country
Tourists will be interested in visiting the capital of Guinea. Since 1958, Conakry has been the capital of Guinea. The capital is located on the picturesque island of Tombo, which washes the Atlantic Ocean. Conakry is a major port. The population of the capital is about seven hundred thousand inhabitants, with adjacent areas. The city is divided into 5 districts: Matoto, Matam, Deakin, Ratoma and Kalum.
The capital of Guinea is the main economic center of the country. It contains the lion's share of the entire Guinean industry - these are mainly processing industries. Important for all foreign trade is the port through which Guinea exports: natural resources and agricultural products. There is a polytechnic institute in Conakry, built with the participation of the Soviet Union. Also, tourists can visit the National Museum, and in the Diksin area, admire the beauties of the Botanical Garden, which was laid out in 1884. The city is located on the picturesque coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Tourists can relax in hotels and enjoy the warm waters of the ocean. By modern standards, Conakry is a small compact city. However very expensive. The high cost is primarily in relation to visiting tourists.
History of Guinea
Back in the 10-11 centuries, the territory of Guinea belonged to another state - Ghana. Around the 13th century, after the collapse of Ghana, the state of Mali was formed. At the same time, the religion of Islam was established among the population of the country, and until the 16th century. Mali was the strongest in this region of Africa. However, it was soon captured by another Gao empire and a new country, Tekrur, was created, located in the western direction. In the 17th century The Bambara people overthrow the emperor of the Malinke people. At that time, all trade was located on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, where the French, Portuguese, and British engaged in the slave trade competed with each other. On the territory of modern Guinea, the slave trade was not as important as on the coast of Senegal, Nigeria and Dahomey. In the 19th century, after the prohibition of the slave trade, it was replaced by the trade: rubber, palm oil, peanuts and skins. In 1881, what is now Guinea became a French colony. The uprisings of the people of Guinea continued until the First World War. During the colonial rule of France, the people of Guinea did not have any rights and freedoms. and only in 1958 Guinea gained independence. In 1991, Guinea adopts a new constitution. And the state begins to implement a series of reforms to strengthen the economic and political independence of the country.
State structure of Guinea
Guinea has a republican system. The head of the country is the president, who is elected by the people by direct vote for a term of 5 years. The President can be elected for a second term. The President is the supreme commander of all armed forces of the republic. The president heads the government, it consists of the prime minister and twenty-two ministers. The National Assembly is elected for five years and consists of 114 deputies. Local communal councils are re-elected every 4 years. The country's judicial system is represented by the Supreme Court, whose judges are appointed for life. All other judges are appointed by the President of the country. In the localities, executive power is exercised by the prefects of administrative centers and districts and is also appointed by the president of the republic. Public organizations—trade unions of working people—do not have much influence on domestic politics. Domestic policy is aimed at stabilizing society and improving the economy, as well as the security of its sovereignty. However, the presence of corruption in public institutions, crime, unemployment and other factors of the crisis have a negative effect on social tension.
Guinea transport
For the information of tourists, the main mode of transport in Guinea is road transport. At gas stations, you do not need to ask for the brand of gasoline; for Guineans, the brand is always the same. The country has 6825 km. 2,000 kilometers of roads of republican significance, including hard-surfaced ones. Passability of most roads during the rainy season is very difficult. Two thousand metal and concrete bridges have been built, there are 29 crossings. The fleet has 120 thousand cars. Taxis are available in cities. Almost all of them are imported. The railway is poorly developed, which is provided by one Kankan-Conakry line; its length is 662 kilometers, and it was built in the last century and needs to be modernized. There are railway lines built to deliver alumina and bauxite to the ports of Komsar and Conakry. One of the most preferred modes of transport is the plane, although it is the most expensive. The country has only one Conakry International Airport, which can accommodate up to 350,000 passengers a year. Guinea has five more paved and ten unpaved airfields. The country's economy mainly uses small-sized aircraft.
Sights of Guinea
Tourists visiting Guinea can admire the contrasts of nature in a small area. The impenetrable jungle in the south and the dried up valleys of the north will allow tourists to enjoy the pristine African nature. The beautiful Phuta Djallon highlands and beautiful sea views will delight travelers.
You need to visit the city of Kankan - the center of the political and spiritual culture of the Malinke people. In the Middle Ages, when the empire of Mali existed on the territory of Guinea, the city of Kankan was built.
There are a lot of historical monuments in the city and in order to see them well, tourists will need a local guide. The attention of tourists will be attracted by the beautifully ornamented Grand Mosque and the presidential palace on the picturesque Milo River. In Conakry, the capital of Guinea, there is the National Museum, which houses a huge collection of masks, national musical instruments and African figurines. The building itself was built in the style of the French Louvre. For ballet lovers, a large People's Palace has been built in the north of Roux du Niger, where numerous festive events are held. Tourists who want to see very exotic animals should visit the foot of Mount Nimba, where they will see the only toad in the world breastfeeding its children.
Natural plants in Guinea are diversely numerous. Despite the fact that here the soil is poor and after fires and clearings, the plants feel great. Human degradation of plants is increasingly reflected in tropical dry forests, savannahs and secondary shrouds. There are very few virgin real, tropical forests left, they are located only along the banks of rivers and in the mountains. Guinean vegetation for tourists from northern countries is a botanical garden. Even the capital of Guinea looks like it.
The entire coast of Guinea is covered with mangroves, mercilessly cut down by man, charcoal is made from trees, and rice is grown in the cut areas. Coconut and banana palms, raffia palm, oil palm grow on the shore.
You can also see giant trees up to 50 meters high in tropical forests. Several thousand species of plants grow in Guinea.
The country's fauna is provided by large animals such as elephants and hippos. In Northern Guinea, herds of antelope, bongo pygmy antelope and gib can still be seen. The tropical forests of Guinea are inhabited by cheetahs, African panthers, chimpanzees and numerous herds of baboons that destroy agricultural crops.
Minerals of Guinea
The bowels of Guinea are very rich in minerals. On its territory there are bauxite deposits of about 25 billion tons, which is one third of the world's reserves of this raw material. Guinea is the second largest exporter of ore for aluminum production. Bauxite is mainly mined by open pit mining by three companies. The largest complex for the extraction of bauxite is located near the city of Boke. This enterprise is owned by Guinea and the HALCO company and produces 14 mil. tons of ore per year. The Guinean government attracts foreign capital to this industry. The bowels of the Republic of Guinea contain deposits of diamonds and gold. Together with the Russian company International Diamond Group, Guinea is conducting geological surveys to identify diamond placers. Guinea, together with a Russian company, is mastering the latest technologies and applying them to our practice. The gold deposits in Guinea exceed the gold reserves in Europe, and among African countries, it occupies a leading position in its reserves. Gold is mined mainly by foreign companies. Most of the mines are controlled by the state, using the old method of extracting gold. Guinea imports about 15 tons of this precious metal every year.
Approximately 80% of the total population of Guinea works in agriculture. The main crops grown are: corn, rice and cassava are the main food of the population of Guinea. Mostly rural residents are engaged in breeding goats, sheep, poultry and cattle. However, the country is experiencing food shortages and has to buy sugar, dairy products and rice. The cultivation of agricultural land is at a very low level due to the lack of funds to improve advanced farming technologies. Guinea exports: pineapples, bananas, chocolate tree, oil palm and peanuts. Due to the loss of French markets and the departure of specialists from Europe, the export of these crops has decreased since 1958. Guinea has been supplying bananas to the world market since the 80s. One of the main products exported to the world market is Guinean coffee, which is considered one of the best in the world. Dry-harvested coffee beans are not roasted, although they are not fragrant, but very strong and have a bitter-sour taste. Robusta is one of the best varieties of Guinean coffee. Guinean coffee has 7 varieties: prima, extra prima, superior, limit, suli, kuran, grazhe shua.
Reserves of Guinea
On the border of Côte d'Ivoire and Leberia, there is a National Park, the area of \u200b\u200bwhich is equal to 13 thousand hectares. Scientists call it the "botanical garden". On the territory, which grows more than 2 thousand different plants, many of which are very rare. Biologists have found here more than 200 unfamiliar animals and 500 species of unknown insects, the habitat of which is only in this National Park. Tourists can see dwarf duikers, spotted hyena, viviparous toad. The park has never been inhabited by people, but recently the influx of the population has increased due to refugees from Liberia. This threatens the reserve. Trips of tourists, only as part of organized groups and under the control of the reserve staff. Scientists from all over the world are constantly working in the reserve. In Guinea, there is the Upper Niger Reserve, its territory is six thousand square kilometers of shrouds and forests. Relic dry forests have been preserved here, many birds and mammals, including lions, mongooses, African elephants, giant lizards - which are the pride of the reserve's employees. One of the amazing wonders of the park is the Niger River itself, the length of which is 4 thousand 180 kilometers. The river is home to both exotic and freshwater fish such as carp and crucian carp.
Resorts of Guinea
Tourists can visit the resort in Guinea with a mountain climate and the D'Asuel wellness center, which uses modern healing methods. Mountain air and beautiful nature will give you great pleasure.
One of the cities of Guinea that tourists should definitely visit is Labe, where there are small markets where you can buy exotic African souvenirs and plunge into the leisurely life and life of the Fula people living in this city.
The resort town of Farana, located 420 kilometers from Conakry, the country's president personally controls it. Farana has very good restaurants with excellent cuisine. The attraction of this city is the local mosque and villas built in the classical and Victorian style. On Mondays, merchants and local peasants hold a huge fair. Tourist routes almost all go from this city to the Bafara waterfall and Fuyama rapids. It should be noted that such cities as Kankan, Nzerekore, Cape Verga, where there are the best beaches in the country, also deserve the attention of tourists. Much attention should be paid to the Guinean markets, where you can buy everything and not very expensive, since all markets are transshipment bases for products from neighboring countries.
Economy of Guinea
The Republic of Guinea is mainly an agricultural country. Although it also has a mining industry - copper, bauxite, iron ore, gold, diamonds. The gross national product of the state consists of 24% agriculture, 31% mining and 45% services. Guinea is still economically dependent on aid from other countries. It still imports oil products, cars and food. Bananas, coffee, aluminum and diamonds are exported from the country. Guinea trades with European and American countries. Guinea generates 770 million kWh of electricity. in year. It harvests 5.5 million cubic meters of wood, banning the export of unprocessed wood abroad. The republic is developing its own fishing fleet, although fish production is only a little more than 60 thousand tons per year. Guinea is restructuring its economy together with the International Monetary Fund, and this is bearing fruit. Private business has become more active in all sectors of the economy. There have been administrative reforms in the country. A course has been adopted to fight corruption. But the life of the native Guineans is still very difficult due to high prices for food and services.
Medicine in Guinea
The Republic of Guinea is a state where poverty is very high, which is why there are problems with the provision of qualified medical care. Since the majority of the population of Guinea lives in villages and towns, it is not always possible for people to get to a medical facility and pay for treatment. There is a shortage of medicines and materials in the country, so the population cannot receive qualified medical care. The main disease in the country is malaria, which accounts for 30% of hospitalizations. Lack of funds for the necessary medicines lead to outbreaks of this disease. The epidemiological situation in the country is complicated by thousands of refugees from the neighboring countries of Sierra Leone and Liberia. Voluntary counseling and testing for HIV/AIDS is carried out here with the help of international medical organizations. Assistance is provided with drugs and antiviral drugs. International medical organizations, together with the Ministry of Health, helped to eliminate the cholera epidemic in Conakry and Boca, and 3,000 patients were assisted. About 370,000 people were vaccinated against yellow fever within three weeks.
Education in Guinea
Even at the time when Guinea was a colony of France, the schools in the country were mostly Muslim, where Islam was the basis of study. The cities of Tubu and Kankan were centers of Muslim learning as early as the 17th century. It was only in the 19th century that schools of the European type appeared in Christian missions. Children from the age of seven began to study and for 6 years received primary education. To get a secondary education, it was necessary to study from the age of 13, in two stages: four years in college and three years in a lyceum. The Republic of Guinea ranks last in girls' schooling (according to UNESCO). Higher education in the country is represented by two
universities in the cities of Kankan and Conakry and institutes in the city of Faranah and Boke. The Institute of Scientific Research and the Guinean Pasteur Institute operate in the country. Until 2000, about 35.9% of the total population was literate in the country. Most Guineans, because of poverty, cannot receive a normal education. Only a small percentage of the population (wealthy people) can afford education abroad. Thanks to UNESCO, Guinea is running programs to improve the quality of education and its accessibility to all sectors of society.
The Republic of Guinea has a military budget of about 52 million dollars a year. The number of armed forces is 9 thousand 700 people, the gendarmerie is one thousand people and two thousand six hundred people are paramilitary formations, the guard of the republic has one thousand six hundred people. The term of service of a soldier is 24 months on conscription. The armed forces of the republic consist of 9 battalions: one tank, one special purpose, one engineer, commando and five infantry. There are two anti-aircraft and artillery battalions in service. The tank fleet consists of 53 tanks: T-34, PT-76, T-54, 40 armored personnel carriers and 27 armored personnel carriers, all this equipment was delivered to the country by the Soviet Union in the 60s and 70s. The Air Force of the Republic has 800 people; there are aircraft in service: four MIG-17Fs, four MIG-15 UTIs, four MIG-21s, one Mi-8 helicopter. The army in Guinea seized power, in the country accusing the deposed government of corruption and inability to carry out reforms in the country. The military coup was carried out by the country's army leadership under the slogan of protecting the country's territorial integrity. As always, the people supported the puchists.
To hunt animals in Guinea, you need to have a good large-caliber gun and be physically strong and agile with a good reaction, as you need to shoot from behind dense thickets and from a distance of 30-50 meters. For a successful hunt for the Red Forest Pig or the Giant Forest Pig, feeding and the sun are used in hunting places, which even buffaloes come out to. This type of hunting is used from a specially equipped tower, as well as from the approach. The most reliable rifle with optics can be rented right at the hunter's camp. One of the best areas for hunting is the Sabuya area - there are many waterbuck sing sing, duikers, forest pigs and forest buffaloes. This area has a developed road system, which contributes to successful hunting. In the northwest of Guinea, the Cumbia region is located where animals such as the warthog, palm marten, hippopotamus, bush buffalo and lions are found. Hunting is carried out only by chasing animals and only by two hunters at the same time. If you want to hunt a hippopotamus, then the Boke Sangaredi area will suit you.
If you are a fisherman, then you will not find a better place for fishing than the Bizhag archipelago for fishing.
Here you can apply a variety of technical types of coastal fishing for tropical fish. Basically, spinning is used for catching fish. A fisherman can catch barracuda, stingray, shark, red carp, karkang. Guinea is a fishing paradise.
Architecture of Guinea
The Guineans mainly build traditional dwellings - round huts with a diameter of 6-10 meters and cover them with straw in the form of a cone-shaped roof. In different parts of the country, huts are built from different materials. In the construction of huts, a mixture of clay and straw, stakes and bamboo mats are used. In cities, houses are built mainly with rectangular flat roofs and terraces. The construction of mosques is a separate type of architecture. Modern cities are built up with high-rise buildings made of reinforced concrete and brick, in the construction and design of which the Soviet Union helped. The old houses were built in the style of French and Portuguese, since Guinea was a colony of these countries. Villas surrounded by tropical greenery have been built in major cities and the capital. Most of the country's population still lives in miserable conditions, without any basic amenities. Huts are built in the village around the center, which is not a large area. Recently, foreign companies have been building state-of-the-art glass and concrete buildings in cities. These are mainly offices of large companies and corporations, banks and other institutions of foreign investors. The share of the public sector in construction is very small.
Fine Arts and Crafts of Guinea
Art objects of the people living in the Republic of Guinea, such as the sculpture of the Baga people and darker, helmet-shaped African nimbus masks, polychrome banda masks are widely represented in private collections and in other museums around the world, such as the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, Russia. Art began to emerge on a professional basis only after the country gained independence. National artists emerged such as Matinez Sirena, M.B. Kossa, M. Conde and many others who studied painting in the Soviet Union. In Guinea, arts and crafts are well developed, these are mainly carving on ivory and wood, jewelry, pottery, metal work (chasing), the manufacture of various baskets, mats, leather finishing and products from them. All this can be purchased in the markets from merchants in the city. Products made of gold and silver are real works of art, as they are made filigree and elegant. Tourists visiting this country never leave without buying a souvenir made by local artisans as a keepsake. Women's jewelry made of leather and gold are very beautiful.
Literature of Guinea
The literature of Guinea is based on oral creativity (fairy tales, proverbs, songs and myths) of the people. Folklore traditions are preserved thanks to griots (wandering actors-storytellers). Even before the colonization of the country, writing was in the language of the Fulbe people (poems called "qasida") All modern Guinean literature is written in French. The ancestor of Guinean national literature is the writer Kamara Ley. Other writers are also known - Emil Sise, Sasien, Monemembo, William Sasein. The works of many Guinean writers and poets have been published in France. In the country itself, the illiterate population almost does not know their writers. The most famous poets of Guinea are Rai Otra, Lunsaini Kaba and Nene Khali. Guinean writers describe in their works the hard life of the common people and their desire for independence and national unity. In the fairy tales of the peoples inhabiting Guinea, the main characters are animals that are endowed with human traits and vices. But good always triumphs over evil and deceit. Guinean literature has an impact on its neighboring countries and contributes to the liberal arts education of the peoples of Africa.
Most of Guinea lies in the subequatorial belt. Average monthly air temperatures are from 18° to 27°C, the hottest month is April, the coldest is August. Precipitation falls mainly in summer, but is very unevenly distributed over the territory: on the coast for 170 rainy days a year, up to 4300 mm of precipitation falls, and in inland areas separated from the ocean by a mountain range - no more than 1500 mm.
Deep river valleys and rolling low mountains make Guinea look like a mountainous country. The largest elevations are the Futa-Jallon Highlands (the highest mountain is Tamge, 1537 m), which limits the narrow coastal lowland, and the North Guinea Upland in the southeast of the country (with the highest mountain Nimba, 1752 m above sea level). The Futa-Jallon Plateau is called by geographers the “Water Tower of West Africa”, because the largest rivers of the region, the Gambia and Senegal, begin here. The Niger River (here called Joliba) also originates in the North Guinean Upland. Numerous rivers in Guinea are generally unnavigable due to numerous rapids and waterfalls, as well as sharp fluctuations in water levels.
The traveler is struck by the bright red or red-brown color of the soils of the savannahs and forests of Guinea, rich in iron oxides. Despite the poverty of these soils, which makes agriculture difficult, the natural vegetation is very rich. Gallery rainforests still exist along the rivers, although in most other places they have been replaced by human activity with tropical dry forests and wooded savannahs. In the north of the country you can see real tall-grass savannahs, and on the ocean coast - mangroves. Coconut palm, Guinean oil palm, and other exotic plants are common along the ocean coast, making even the streets of large cities look like a botanical garden. The animal world of the country is still rich: elephants, hippos, various types of antelopes, panthers, cheetahs, monkeys are numerous (especially baboons living in large herds). It is worth mentioning also forest cats, hyenas, mongoose, crocodiles, large and small snakes and lizards, hundreds of species of birds. Insects are also numerous, among which there are many dangerous ones that carry pathogens of yellow fever and sleeping sickness (tsetse fly).
Almost the entire population of Guinea belongs to the Negroid race. The most numerous people are the Fulbe, who inhabit mainly the Futa-Jallon plateau. Other peoples belong to the Mande language subgroup: Malinke, Korako, Susu. The official language, French, is spoken by only a small part of the population, and the most common languages are Ful, Malinke, Susu. 60% of the population are Muslims, about 2% are Christians, the rest adhere to traditional beliefs. Most of the population is employed in agriculture (cattle breeding, as well as the cultivation of rice, cassava, sweet potato, corn). The capital and largest city of Guinea is Conakry (about 1,400 thousand inhabitants). Other large cities are mainly industrial centers and transport hubs Kankan, Kandia, Labe, as a rule, of no interest to tourists.
History of Guinea
At the end of the XIX century. Guinea was colonized by France and from 1904 was part of the federation of French West Africa. In a referendum in 1958, the Guinean people voted for independence, which was proclaimed on 2 October. A. Sekou Toure was elected president of the country, who established a one-party system in the country, backed up by a powerful repressive apparatus. In the field of foreign policy, he followed a moderately pro-Soviet course, and in the field of domestic policy he was an adherent of scientific socialism with African characteristics. The result of this strategy was the total socialization of property; at some stages, even the number of merchants in the bazaars was regulated by order. By the beginning of the 1980s, about a million residents of the country had migrated abroad.
After Toure's death in 1984, a group of military men seized power, creating the Military Committee of National Revival, headed by Colonel Lansana Conte, who over the next three years Conte eliminated the main competitors in the struggle for power. Under Comte, foreign policy was oriented towards greater cooperation with France, the USA, Great Britain, the country began to enjoy the support of international financial organizations. A side effect of the weakening of political control was a massive increase in corruption, during the reign of Conte, Guinea became one of the world leaders in this indicator. At the end of the 1980s, the process of democratization of political life began, and elections have been held regularly since the beginning of the next decade. Conte won the presidential elections three times (in 1993, 1998, 2003), and his Party of Unity and Progress in the parliamentary elections, each round was accompanied by powerful opposition protests, to which local power ministries traditionally react very harshly. The continuing deterioration of the economic situation in the country led to mass demonstrations in 2007 demanding the resignation of the government and the adoption of urgent measures to bring the country out of the crisis. As a result of negotiations between the authorities and the trade union movement, the post of prime minister was handed over to a compromise candidate with a mandate until the next elections scheduled for mid-2008.
Geography of Guinea
More than half of the country's territory is occupied by low mountains and plateaus. The Atlantic coast is strongly indented by river estuaries and is occupied by an alluvial-marine lowland 30-50 km wide. Further, the Futa-Dzhallon plateau rises in ledges, divided into separate massifs up to 1538 m high (Mount Tamge). Behind it, in the east of the country, there is an elevated accumulative-denudation stratal plain, to the south of which the North Guinea Upland rises, turning into socle plateaus (≈800 m) and blocky highlands (Mount Nimba is the highest point of the country with a height of 1752 m).
Guinea's most important minerals are bauxite, in terms of which the country ranks first in the world. Gold, diamonds, ores of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, zircon, rutile, and monazite are also mined.
The climate is subequatorial with a pronounced alternation of dry and wet seasons. Humid summer lasts from 3-5 months in the northeast to 7-10 months in the south of the country. The air temperature on the coast (≈27°C) is higher than in the interior (≈24°C) of the country, except during periods of drought, when the Harmattan wind blowing from the Sahara raises the air temperature to 38°C.
The dense and high-water river network of Guinea is represented by rivers flowing from the plateau to the eastern plain and flowing into the Niger there, and by rivers flowing from these same plateaus directly into the Atlantic Ocean. Rivers are navigable only in small, mainly estuarine areas.
Forests occupy about 60% of the country's territory, but most of them are represented by secondary sparse deciduous trees. Indigenous moist evergreen forests have survived only on the windward slopes of the North Guinean Uplands. Along the river valleys, gallery forests are fragmentary. Mangroves grow in places along the coast. The once diverse fauna of the forests has been preserved mainly in protected areas (hippos, genets, civets, forest duikers). Elephants, leopards and chimpanzees are almost completely exterminated.
Economy of Guinea
Guinea has large mineral, hydropower and agricultural resources, but still remains an economically underdeveloped country.
Guinea has deposits of bauxite (almost half of the world's reserves), iron ore, diamonds, gold, and uranium.
More than 75% of workers are employed in agriculture. Rice, coffee, pineapples, tapioca, bananas are cultivated. Cattle, sheep, goats are bred.
Export commodities are bauxites, aluminium, gold, diamonds, coffee, fish.
The main export partners (in 2006) are Russia (11%), Ukraine (9.6%), South Korea (8.8%).