LIBERIA

Liberia, which means "Land of the Free," was founded as an independent nation by free-born and formerly enslaved African Americans. Recently it has witnessed two civil wars, the Liberian Civil War (1989–1996), and the Second Liberian Civil War (1999–2003), that have displaced hundreds of thousands and destroyed its economy.

Location

Liberia is a country on the west coast of Africa. Liberia has a coastline on the Atlantic Ocean at the western end of the Gulf of Guinea. Sierra Leone is located to its north-west, Guinea to its north and Ivory coast to its east.

Geography

Facing the Atlantic Ocean, the coastline is characterized by lagoons, mangrove swamps, and river-deposited sandbars; the inland grassy plateau supports limited agriculture.

Capital

Monrovia

Population

3,042,004

Climate

Tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool to cold nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers.

Language

English (Official) and Tribal Dialects

Monetary Unit

Liberian Dollar

Largest Cities

Monorovia, Buchanan

Principal rivers

St. Paul, St. John, Cess

Places to Visit

Monorovia, Buchanan, Mt. Nimba

Air Ports

Monorovia International Airport, Robert's International Airport