The country lies in two climatic zones - subequatorial in the north and equatorial in the south. Average monthly temperatures everywhere are 25-30 °C, but the amount of precipitation and its regime are different. In the equatorial climate zone, oceanic air dominates all year and there is not a single month without precipitation, the amount of which per year reaches 2400 mm (mainly in March-June and December-January). In the north - in a subequatorial climate - there is less precipitation (1100-1800 mm) and a dry winter period is pronounced.
Geography
The surface of the country is predominantly flat, low in the south in the oceanic zone and turning into a low-mountain plateau 500-800 m high in the north. In the west, in the Dan Mountains - the highest point in the country (1340 m). Almost throughout the entire territory there are outcrops of ancient rocks of the African Platform: granites predominate in the west and north, and clayey shales in the east. Deposits of gold, diamonds, manganese, and iron ores have been discovered here. The coast of the Gulf of Guinea is slightly indented and separated from the sea by a strip of sandy sediments. The main rivers - Comoe, Bandama, Sassandra, Cavalli - are not navigable.
Flora and fauna
The vegetation cover in the south is dominated by humid equatorial forests, where more than 600 species of trees grow, including valuable species (about 35 species are used for timber, of which 5 are mahogany species). To the north, humid forests give way to savannah, into which islands of gallery forests are wedged along river valleys. Further north, the islands of trees disappear and most of the territory is covered with tall grass savanna. Both the flora and fauna of the Ivory Coast are better preserved than in other countries of West Africa: in the forests there are numerous monkeys (monkeys, chimpanzees, gverets, etc.), elephants, hippopotamuses, forest antelopes, brush-eared pigs, and water deer are found; In the savannas there are various species of antelope, as well as leopard, cheetah, and serval. A network of nature reserves and national parks has been created, including on the slopes of Mount Nimba (on the border with Guinea and Liberia), Banco National Park near Abidjan.
Population
The population of Côte d'Ivoire includes representatives of more than 55 linguistic communities, many of which are distinguished by their own unique exotic culture. There are three subgroups of nationalities: Guinean (Kru, Baule, Anyi, etc.), Voltaic (Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Kulango, Mosi) and Mande (Malinke and others). The majority of the population is engaged in agriculture (cocoa, coffee, etc.) and maintains both a traditional way of life and traditional animistic beliefs.
Big cities
The largest city in the country is Abidjan (about 4.4 million inhabitants), whose rapid growth began after 1950. Now it is an industrial center, a major port, there is a university and a research center here. Abidjan is a modern city with numerous hotels, restaurants, and other elements of tourism infrastructure. The capital of Côte d'Ivoire is Yamoussoukro, home to 281 thousand people. Other large cities in the country are Bwake, San Pedro, Korhogo, Ferkesedugu.
Story
The territory of modern Cote'd Ivoire was inhabited by pygmies back in the 1st millennium BC. Soon other peoples began to move there, the first of them being the Senufo.
Europeans first began landing on the shores of modern Ivory Coast in the 15th century. The Portuguese, Dutch, and Danes visited here then. The Portuguese visited here in the 1460s. Colonization began with the arrival of the French, who began economic development of the land in the mid-19th century. Local tribes were destroyed until 1917. The French exported diamonds and gold, coffee and cocoa from here, and had banana plantations here. On March 10, 1893, Ivory Coast was declared a colony of France, and in 1895 it was included in French West Africa. Ivory Coast became a major producer of coffee and cocoa for French markets. In 1934, Abidjan was declared the center of the colony. In 1945, the first political party arose - the Democratic Party of the Ivory Coast, which at first leaned towards Marxism, but from the early 50s switched to positions close to the French right. In 1957, France granted local self-government to the colony.
On August 7, 1960, the country's independence was proclaimed. the leader of the Democratic Party Houphouët-Boigny became its president, the DP became the ruling and only party. The principle of inviolability of private property was proclaimed. The country continued to remain an agricultural and raw material appendage of France, but by African standards its economy was in good condition, with economic growth rates reaching 11% per year. Ivory Coast became the world leader in the production of cocoa beans in 1979, but success in this area was based on favorable conditions and a combination of the presence of great managers, foreign investment and a large number of cheap labor, mainly guest workers from neighboring countries. However, in the 1980s, prices for coffee and cocoa on world markets fell, in 1982-1983 the country suffered a severe drought, and an economic recession began; By the end of the 1980s, external debt per capita exceeded that of all African countries except Nigeria. Under public pressure, Houphouët-Boigny made political concessions, legalized alternative political parties to the ruling, initiated the electoral process, and in 1990 was elected president.
In 1993, he died, and the country was led by Henri Konan Bedier, who had long been considered his heir. In 1995, a forum was held on investment in the country’s economy, in which Russian companies also participated. In the late 90s, political instability intensified, Bedier had a serious competitor: Allassane Ouattara, but he is Burkinabe by origin, while the country's constitution allowed only Ivorians to participate in elections. This circumstance greatly deepened the already emerging split in society along ethnic lines. By that time, from a third to a half of the country’s population were people of foreign origin, mostly who had previously worked in agriculture, which had fallen into decline due to the bad economic situation.
On December 25, 1999, a military coup took place in the country, the organizer of which, Robert Guay, held presidential elections the following year, marked by fraud and riots. Opposition leader Laurent Gbagbo was officially declared the winner of the elections. On September 19, 2002, a military rebellion was organized in Abdijan, which was suppressed, but became the beginning of a civil war between political factions representing the north and south of the country. In 2003, an agreement was reached to end the clashes, but the situation continued to remain unstable. A lasting peace agreement was only signed in the spring of 2007.
Policy
Cote d'Ivoire is a presidential republic. The President of the country is directly elected for a term of 5 years with the possibility of re-election only once. He has full executive power and appoints and removes the prime minister. The President has legislative initiative along with the parliament (unicameral).
Ghana on a map of Africa
(all pictures are clickable)
Geographical position
Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) is a state off the Atlantic coast of West Africa. Neighbors include Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Liberia and Guinea; the southern coast is washed by the waters of the Gulf of Guinea. The coastline is indented by numerous lagoons. Territory area - 322.46 thousand km².
The climate is equatorial, in the north - subequatorial. The temperature in the south remains almost unchanged throughout the year, remaining between +26-28 °C. In the north, average monthly temperatures vary much more: from +12 °C in January (at this time sandstorms - hamartans - come from the Sahara) to +40 °C in June - July. Precipitation is distributed unevenly: in the southern regions up to 2400 mm falls during the year, in the northern regions it falls almost half as much - 1200-1800 mm. There are two distinct rainy seasons: from April to July and from October to November.
Flora and fauna
Forests in areas with an equatorial climate are characterized by a wide variety of tree species and various types of tropical plants, including pineapples, banana palms, coffee trees, etc. Areas where the equatorial climate gives way to subequatorial climate are arid.
The fauna is typical for West African countries: monkeys, antelopes, elephants, hippos live here; Predators include leopards, cheetahs, hyenas and jackals. The forests of Côte d'Ivoire are home to many snakes.
State structure
Map of Cote d'Ivoire
Political structure is a republic headed by a president. The legislative body is the unicameral National Assembly. The administrative-territorial division of the country is represented by 19 districts. The local currency is the CFA franc. Formally, the capital of Côte d'Ivoire is the city of Yamoussoukro, but all the most important government institutions and the residence of the president of the republic are located in the city of Abidjan.
Population
The population is 22.8 million people. In terms of ethnic composition, the inhabitants of Côte d'Ivoire practically do not differ from the inhabitants of other countries of Guinean Africa: there are more than 60 large and small peoples in the country. The official language is French, but in everyday life the local languages of three main subgroups are widespread - Mande, Voltaic and Guinean. Traditional cults are popular among the majority of the population; 25% are Muslims, 11% are Protestant Christians.
Economy
Cote d'Ivoire is an agricultural country. Main commercial crops: coffee, cocoa, rubber, bananas, oil palms. The country's subsoil is rich in minerals: granite rocks, diamonds, bauxite, tin and iron ores.
The first Europeans to arrive on the Guinean coast of West Africa in the mid-15th century. the Portuguese arrived. For a long time, almost until the end of the 19th century, this region of the continent was a “gold mine” for European slave traders, who founded fortified colony forts here. At the beginning of the 20th century. the territory of modern Côte d'Ivoire was captured by the French and included it in French West Africa, after the collapse, which in 1960 formed several new independent states on the African continent, including Ivory Coast. In 1983, the capital of the state was moved from Abidjan to Yamoussoukro.
Attractions
When entering the country, you must have a medical certificate indicating vaccination against yellow fever.
The tallest Christian cathedral on the planet, the Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Paix, is located in the city of Yamoussoukro. The height of the structure, including the dome and cross, is 158 m.
Côte d'Ivoire is a kind of working ethnographic museum, since on the territory of the country you can meet representatives of almost all nationalities inhabiting the Guinean coast of West Africa. Delving deeper into the state, the culture of the tribes inhabiting these lands becomes less urban and more original. And in both capitals, large festivals and holidays are constantly held, which feature religious rites and celebrations of Christians, Muslims and local traditional customs.
COTE D'IVOIRE
The Republic of Cote d'Ivoire, a state in West Africa, is the richest country of the former colonies that were part of French West Africa. In the south it is washed by the waters of the Gulf of Guinea, in the east it borders on Ghana, in the north - on Burkina Faso and Mali, on in the west - with Guinea and Liberia. Area 322.5 thousand sq. km. Population 15 million people (1998). Since 1983, the capital is the city of Yamoussoukro in the central part of the country, all ministries and foreign diplomatic missions are located in the former capital - Abidjan. The independence of Cote d'Ivoire was proclaimed on August 7, 1960.
Cote d'Ivoire. Capitals: Yamoussoukro (official), Abidjan (actual). Population - 15 million people (1998). Population density - 45 people per 1 sq. km. Urban population - 48%, rural - 52%. Area - 332.5 thousand sq. km. Highest point - Mount Nimba (1752 m). Official language - French. Main religions: Islam, Christianity, local traditional beliefs. Administrative division - 49 departments. Currency - franc KFA National holiday: Independence Day - August 7. National anthem: "Hail, land of hope."
Flag of Ivory Coast
ABIDJAN - CAPITAL OF COTE D'IVOIRE
Nature. The main part of the country's territory is occupied by an undulating plain, which gradually rises from the coast to the north and turns into a plateau more than 400 m above sea level. The flat surface is broken by remnants composed of volcanic and crystalline rocks. The relative height of these landforms sometimes exceeds 100 m. In the north-west of Côte d'Ivoire there are mountains composed of crystalline rocks - granites, amphibolites and quartzites. The Odienne and Man mountains are especially notable with massive ridges up to 1100-1200 m high and deep valleys and gorges. At the junction of the borders of three countries - Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea and Liberia - Mount Nimba (1752 m), the highest point of the country, rises. The plains and plateaus of Côte d'Ivoire are crossed in the meridional direction by the rivers Cavalli (along the border with Liberia), Sassandra, Bandama and Comoe. They are non-navigable (mainly due to the rapids), but are widely used for timber rafting. The territory of Côte d'Ivoire cross three geographical zones from north to south: Sudanese, forest and coastal. The length of the coastline is approx. 550 km. West of the border with Ghana to the town of Fresco, the coast is lined with sand bars and lagoons. The largest of them is the Ebrier Lagoon with an area of 550 square meters. km and a depth of 7-8 m. After the construction of a canal across the embankment in 1950, this lagoon turned into a convenient sea harbor and in subsequent years was connected by canals with neighboring lagoons - Make in the west and Obi in the east. In the area west of Fresco to the border with Liberia, a plateau approaches the coast, which ends with rocky ledges 20 to 50 m high. The climate of the coastal zone is equatorial, constantly hot and humid. The average annual precipitation is 1900-2400 mm in the west and east and slightly less in the central part. Two precipitation maxima are expressed (May-June and September-November). Average monthly temperatures are 27-28°C in December - April and 23-24°C from July - September. The forest zone is approx. 300 km in the east and west and less than 130 km in the central part of the country in the Bandama river basin. In the south of this zone, tropical rainforests with evergreen tree species extend; in the north, the role of deciduous trees increases. These forests contain large reserves of valuable commercial timber. Kaya (mahogany, or red, tree), high chlorophora, prickly argan (the so-called ironwood) and the famous cola grow here. Temperatures in the forest zone are also high, but their amplitude is greater than in the coastal zone, and humidity and precipitation are lower - usually less than 1500 mm per year. The vegetation of the Sudanese zone gradually changes from savanna woodlands in the south, where Guinea oil palms, acacias, breadfruit trees and baobabs rise among the cereals, to true grass savannas further to the north. Average monthly temperatures range from 30°C in April to 25°C in August-September. Two seasons are clearly defined - wet (June - October) and dry (December - February), when the north-east harmattan wind blows from the Sahara. The fauna is rich and diverse in species. In the forests there are monkeys, elephants, hippopotamuses, forest antelopes, buffaloes, in the savannas - different types of antelopes, among predators - leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, jackals. Characterized by an abundance of birds, snakes and insects. The tsetse fly is widespread. National parks (Comoe, Tan, Marajue, Mont Peno) and nature reserves (Nimba) have been created to protect wild animals.
Population. According to the 1988 census, 10.8 million people lived in Cote d'Ivoire, and in 1998 - about 15 million. In the early 1990s, the birth rate was 49 per 1 thousand people, and the mortality rate was 15 per 1 thousand . people, i.e. natural growth reached 3% per year. In 1985, more than 42% of the country's inhabitants were under 15 years of age. The most densely populated forest areas are in the west and southeast of the country and on the coast. The strip running between the valley of the Bandama River and the railway running from Abidjan north to Burkina Faso. The largest city in Côte d'Ivoire is Abidjan (about 2 million inhabitants), followed by Bouaké, a commercial center and transport hub in the interior country, Daloa in the west, Korhogo in the north and the capital Yamoussoukro in the central region. The ethnic composition of the population of Cote d'Ivoire is heterogeneous. There are five main ethnic groups. The largest of them is the Agni-Ashanti group (Baule, Agni and Abro), concentrated in the forests in the southeast of the country. The Kru group (Bete, Guere) is widespread in forests in the southwest (west of the Bandama River). The Mande group (Malinke, Diula) lives mainly in the northwestern mountainous regions. The Senufo live in the savannas in the north, and the Dan and Guru live in the savanna woodlands in the middle part of the river basin .Bandama About 40% of the inhabitants of Cote d'Ivoire profess Islam, 25% are Christians, and the rest are animists. The Muslim population predominates in the north-west, with the majority of the Mande and a significant proportion of the Senufo being Muslim. The stronghold of Christianity is the south, where at the end of the 19th century. The first Christian missions appeared. Abidjan's population is almost equally divided between Muslims and Christians. 30% of the population are foreign citizens, mainly from Burkina Faso and Mali, who are employed in agricultural work. They make up about a third of the country's wage workers. Approx. people live in Abidjan. 90 thousand Lebanese and Syrians and 35 thousand Europeans, mostly French. According to the UN, in Côte d'Ivoire in 1997 there were 220 thousand refugees from Liberia. Some of them are integrated into local society, the rest, with the assistance of the UN, are repatriated to their homeland or resettled in Sierra Leone. The official language of the country is French. Among more Of the 60 African languages, the most common languages are those of the Kru (especially Anya) and Mande (especially Malinke) groups.
Public education. During the years of independence, significant progress has been made in the development of the education system. In 1947, 9% of children of the corresponding age studied in primary schools in the country, and in 1993 - approx. 70%. In 1995 approx. 30% of budget expenditures were allocated to education. During the colonial period, the school system, built on the French model, was aimed at preparing students to continue their education at secondary school and university. However, the government of independent Côte d'Ivoire made changes to this system, placing the main emphasis on the development of technical schools, the graduates of which could replace Europeans in key positions in the economy. In 1994, 1,554 thousand children were studying in primary schools, 448 thousand in secondary schools ., in technical schools - 8.9 thousand, and at the National University in Abidjan - 15.5 thousand students.
Political system. According to the 1960 constitution, the state and government are headed by a president, elected by direct universal suffrage for a term of 5 years. The President appoints and removes members of the government who are personally accountable to him. The legislative body is a unicameral National Assembly consisting of 175 deputies, who are elected by universal and direct vote simultaneously with the president for a five-year term on a single national list. Although the constitution formally provides for the division of powers, in fact the powers of the National Assembly are very limited. The highest court is the Supreme Court. Administratively, the country's territory is divided into 49 departments. Each of them has an elected general council, which adopts the local budget. The head of the department's executive branch is the prefect, who represents the central government. The leading political force is the Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire (PDCI), led by the country's president Henri Konan Bedier. The party arose from the first mass organization - the African Agricultural Syndicate, an association of large agricultural producers created at the end of World War II by the future first president of the country Felix Houphouët-Boigny, who was then a leader, doctor and entrepreneur. In 1946-1950, this party collaborated with the French Communist Party, but then F. Houphouët-Boigny broke with the communists and began to pursue a policy of close cooperation with the French government. In the post-war period, Other parties were created in Cote d'Ivoire. However, since none of them enjoyed mass support, the DNAI won the first general elections in 1957 and remained in power until the death of its leader F. Houphouet-Boigny in 1993. It was the only party to field candidates in the elections of 1959, 1960, 1965 , 1970, 1975, 1980 and 1985. After the introduction of a multi-party system in 1990, the first alternative presidential elections were held, in which the rival of F. Houphouet-Boigny, a veteran of the opposition movement and leader of the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI), Laurent Gbagbo, was defeated. In the same year, a constitutional amendment was adopted regarding the order of succession to power. It provided that in the event of the death of F. Houphouet-Boigny as president, the supreme power in the country would pass to his fellow tribesman, Chairman of the National Assembly Henri Konan Bedier. At the same time, an amendment was made to the constitution to create the post of prime minister, thereby creating a second center of power, the leader of which could also apply for the post of president. Alassane Ouattara was appointed Prime Minister. When F. Houphouet-Boigny died on December 7, 1993, Gbagbo and Ouattara opposed the transfer of power to Bedier. However, the dispute was resolved in Bedier's favor by France, which almost immediately recognized him as the legitimate president. Two days after the death of F. Houphouet-Boigny, A. Ouattara resigned from the post of prime minister. After the 1990 elections, an atmosphere of political instability and tension remained in the country. Bedier won the 1995 presidential election. Ouattara was deprived of the right to run in these elections, since only a native citizen who had lived in the country for the last five years could become a candidate for the presidency. Ouattara's supporters, former members of the PDCI, formed a new centrist party, the Rally of Republicans (RR). United in the ranks of the Republican Front (FR), OR, FPI and other opposition parties created a political counterweight to the DPKI. The foreign policy of independent Cote d'Ivoire was distinguished by its pro-European orientation and conservatism. The country's government is a consistent supporter of close African-French cooperation. Although Cote d'Ivoire became the first state in Sub-Saharan Africa to establish diplomatic relations with South Africa (1992), it provided significant support fight against the apartheid regime. Côte d'Ivoire played a leading role in the creation of the Union of Concord - an amorphous political and economic association, which includes Côte d'Ivoire, Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger and Togo, as well as the pro-French General Afro-Mauritian Organization (OCAM) . According to the Lomé Convention, Côte d'Ivoire enjoys economic benefits in relations with the EU. Since 1960, a member of the UN, and since 1963 - the Organization of African Unity. In 1995, Côte d'Ivoire joined the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and provided significant support the organization's efforts to end the civil war in Liberia (1989-1997). However, unlike other members of ECOWAS, Cote d'Ivoire did not send its troops as part of the peacekeeping force (ECOMOG) to Liberia and even allowed fighters of the Liberian group of Charles Taylor to be on its territory. After ECOMOG planes were mistakenly dropped in 1993 bombs on the border region of Cote d'Ivoire near Danane, its relations with the ECOWAS countries became complicated.
Economy. Cote d'Ivoire is one of the most economically developed countries among the former colonies of French West Africa. In 1996, GDP amounted to $10.4 billion, or about $707 per capita. In the 1960s, the rate of economic growth was 11% per year, in the 1970s - early 1980s - 6%. In 1987-1989, prices for the main exports of Côte d'Ivoire - coffee and cocoa - fell sharply on the world market, and in 1987-1989 1994 GDP did not increase, and sometimes even decreased. In the early 1980s, the country's external debt reached a critical level. The government was forced to negotiate with foreign creditors, the IMF and the World Bank to defer loan payments. In 1991, the Ivorian authorities began implementing a program of structural adjustment of the economy, which included reducing government spending, liberalizing the economy and withdrawing the state from many areas of economic activity. In 1994, the CFA franc was devalued by 50%, but this was followed by a temporary increase prices and an economic recovery began, which resulted in export sales increasing by almost 33% in 1995. In the late 1990s, average annual GDP growth was approximately 5%. Ivory Coast maintains close relations with France, which provides it with significant economic support. help. French investors account for the majority of foreign private investment. Europeans occupy many key positions in the Ivorian economy, and most industrial enterprises are owned by foreign capital. In the 1990s, the main task remained the development of the national economy, which requires further structural reforms. The previous economic successes of Ivory Coast were largely due to because the government supported measures to develop and diversify agricultural production. Agriculture plays an important role in the country's economy, employing approx. 60% of the working population. The main commercial products are coffee, cocoa beans, cotton and bananas. Cote d'Ivoire is a leading supplier of cocoa beans to the world market. Income from sales abroad of cocoa beans and valuable wood species (primarily mahogany) together amount to about 75% of all export earnings. In the late 1960s The country began to export pineapples, rubber and palm oil.Most of the grains and timber exports are produced in the forested zone in the south of the country, but increased cotton production in the north has significantly reduced income inequality in both regions. While in the interwar period most coffee and cocoa beans were grown on large plantations owned by Europeans, in the 1960s these crops were cultivated mainly on small farms of African peasants. Other export crops are still grown on European plantations. Logging is carried out mainly by foreign companies. Large plantation owners hire workers from neighboring countries, mainly Burkina Faso. The main food crops grown for domestic consumption or for sale in the domestic market are yams, sweet potatoes, cassava, bananas and rice. In addition, taro (for the sake of edible tubers rich in starch), corn, and in the north of the country - millet and sorghum are cultivated. Livestock farming is less developed, including the breeding of sheep, goats, poultry and cattle. The development of this industry is limited to the far north, since the rest of the territory is included in the range of the tsetse fly. An important sector of the economy of Côte d'Ivoire is fishing, primarily tuna; canned fish is one of the important exports. The mining industry plays a minor role in the country's economy. The exception is diamond mining (84.3 thousand carats in 1994). Gold placers are exploited on a small scale. Large reserves of high-quality iron ore have been discovered in the Bangolo region. In the 1970s and 1980s, the development of offshore oil and gas fields began in Côte d'Ivoire, but in the early 1990s the level of oil production decreased sharply. In the mid-1990s, new oil reserves were discovered on the continental shelf. In independent Côte d'Ivoire, industry developed rapidly. In this regard, of the former colonies of French West Africa, only Senegal is ahead of it. The share of industry in GDP in 1995 was 20% versus 8% in 1960. In the 1950s, the main industries were food, cotton, woodworking, brick and tile production, as well as soap production.During the years of independence, new industries have been created: assembly of bicycles and cars from imported parts, production of steel frames and metal containers, chemical, pharmaceutical, production of plastics and matches, oil refining and canning Most industrial enterprises are located in Abidjan, Bouaké and their surroundings. Further development of industry in Côte d'Ivoire depends on the need to expand the energy base. In 1995, the country produced 2915 million kW of electricity, with 60% generated by hydroelectric power plants. The capacity of the Kosu hydroelectric station, built on the Bandama River in 1972 and then considered one of the largest in Africa, is 175 thousand kWh. In 1994, the new Vridi power plant, powered by local gas, came into operation. From 1960 to 1980, the volume of foreign trade of Côte d'Ivoire increased annually by an average of 7%. In subsequent years, the rate of export growth slowed down and in 1980-1990 amounted to about 1.9% per year, and in 1990-1995 - less than 1 %. In 1996, the value of exports amounted to 4.4 billion dollars, and imports - 2.5 billion. The main import items are petroleum products, machinery, electrical equipment, cars, fish, rice and medicines. The main export items are coffee, cocoa , wood and lumber, cotton, fish, bananas, palm oil and natural rubber. Traditionally, Côte d'Ivoire's agricultural export products enjoyed trade privileges in the French market and then in the EEC countries. In the 1990s, the main trading partners of Côte d'Ivoire remained France, Nigeria and Mali. After 1960, a significant part of the coffee was sent to the United States. Most foreign trade transactions are carried out through the port of Abidjan. Foreign and wholesale trade of Côte d'Ivoire is controlled by several large European companies. Often, Syrian and Lebanese entrepreneurs are intermediaries between companies and manufacturers. Most retail trade is in the hands of small African traders. Côte d'Ivoire is part of the French franc zone. The country's currency, the CFA franc, is issued by the Central Bank of West Africa, which also serves Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo. The transport system was created to serve the export sector of the country's economy and provide access to seaports for Burkina Faso. Almost all main roads pass through the southern regions of the country, where most of the export products are produced. In 1996, the total length of roads was 55 thousand km, of which roads with hard surface were about 6 thousand km. The construction of a deep-water port in San Pedro was completed in 1972. Abidjan is connected by railway to the capital of Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou (its length in Côte d'Ivoire is 660 km). Abidjan and Yamoussoukro have international airports. See below
COTE D'IVOIRE. HISTORY
LITERATURE
Blokhin L.F. Ivory Coast. Economic and geographical characteristics. M., 1967
Avsenev M. M. Republic of Ivory Coast. M., 1982
Collier's Encyclopedia. - Open Society. 2000 .
Synonyms:Cote d'Ivoire. Ivory Coast. West Africa, Gulf of Guinea, Atlantic Ocean. The territory that the Ivorians themselves call the Land of Hope.
Once upon a time, a thousand years BC, the first inhabitants - pygmies - settled here. Europeans came here in the 15th century. At the end of the 19th century, Cote d'Ivoire became a colony of France, supplying it with cocoa beans, bananas and mahogany. In 1960 the country became independent. In the 2000s, Cote d'Ivoire was full of riots, coups, civil war and closed borders. Just ten years ago the country gained stability. And finally, tourists began to visit it again, for whom the Ivory Coast government is trying to create the most favorable conditions.
The country deserves a tourism boom, it has everything for this: a good climate, unique nature, exotic animals, the most interesting culture of local peoples (and there are more than 60 of them!), magnificent sandy beaches on the Gulf of Guinea, interesting sights, a lot of hotels of different levels and three international airport.
But for now, Cote d’Ivoire is located somewhat off the beaten tourist path, although there is a plus in this - the local population is not at all aggressive towards the white man, the people are simple, friendly, and do not beg, unlike residents of countries popular among tourists. And for collectors of African art, this is simply paradise.
What is interesting to see in Cote d'Ivoire?
A completely new, but already iconic object of Cote d’Ivoire. This Catholic cathedral was built in 1985 in Abidjan, the largest city in the country. It was consecrated by the Pope himself. A huge building, stylized as the figure of St. Paul with a cloak fluttering behind him.
It makes an impression even on people who have no imagination and do not recognize futurism, surrealism and other cubism. Inside there are colored stained glass windows on an African-evangelical theme. You can take pictures! Be sure to go upstairs to the cathedral platform, which offers views of the entire city and the Ebrier Lagoon.
An amazing, very unusual in appearance temple, also located in Abidjan. The building looks like a spiral road going up. Inside there are stained glass windows with scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary. The temple is operational and regular services are held here.
National Museum in Abidjan
The museum is a little confusing in terms of exhibitions, but very interesting. Musical instruments - flutes and tom-tom drums, figurines, panels. But the most important thing is a huge collection of famous eerie mystical masks depicting a human face.
45 km from Abidjan is the city of Grand Bassam, which is declared a cultural heritage of humanity by UNESCO. This is a ghost town. In the late 19th century, it was the capital of a French colony until a yellow fever epidemic broke out.
The surviving Europeans left the city, leaving behind houses, monuments and sculptures. A mirage of the past with colonial architecture. The once luxurious buildings now have a very shabby, dilapidated appearance.
But Grand Bassam has another side: it is a resort town, it is located on the coast, there are excellent sandy beaches and many decent hotels with good cuisine.
Notre-Dame de la Paix - Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace
Landmark of the capital of Cote d'Ivoire, Yamoussoukro, located 240 km from Abidjan: Notre-Dame de la Paix. Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace.
The largest cathedral in the world, included in the Guinness Book of Records, has an interesting backstory. Yamoussoukro, a town with a population of less than 200 thousand people, became the capital only because it was the birthplace of the country's first president, the late Felix Houphouet-Boigny, whom Ivorians greatly respect and call Papa Houphet. He immortalized his name by erecting the largest basilica in the world, and placing his image on the stained glass window of the church next to the face of Christ.
The huge dome of the cathedral is visible for tens of kilometers, all around is a bare savannah with hot red sand, clouding the sky during the harmattan wind blowing from the Sahara.
The temple is built of Italian marble with French stained glass windows. Hundreds of meters of stained glass! Stunning view, incredible. Bright light pouring through colored glass against the backdrop of the minimalist decoration of the Cathedral. Impressive.
Kong is an ancient city founded in the 11th century and once the capital of an entire empire. It was through Kong, which was then the center of caravan trade with the Berber and Tuareg tribes, that Islam spread throughout the northern part of the Ivory Coast. Now Kong is a remote place, but the mosque, built in the 16th century, is perfectly preserved. National treasure of Côte d'Ivoire.
The Tingrel Mosque is located in the town of the same name, built in 1655. The name of the mason who built it has been preserved - Massa. The mosque was reconstructed over 10 years and is now open to the public. A very unique architectural building.
UNESCO included the Thai National Park in the category of world heritage. This is real African exotica. 1300 species of plants and trees that grow only here! Tai is located in the south of the country, between the Sassandra and Kavalya rivers. The largest equatorial forest in West Africa, the last remnant of the Guinean forest, which once covered the territory of several countries. There are huge, simply gigantic trees, hundreds (!) of orchid species, flocks of chimpanzees, buffalos, leopards and pygmy hippos.
Neighborhoods of the city of Man
The city of Man is located in the center of Côte d'Ivoire. Its surroundings are famous all over the world. Unique nature, 5 km from the city - a bamboo forest, two mountains - the mascots of the city - Mont Tonqui and La Dent de Man ("The Human Tooth"), La Cascade waterfall. Mana hosts carnivals, holidays and a festival of those same masks - in February.
Korhogo is the central city of the Senufo people, who preserve pagan cults and rituals. The people are famous for their crafts - blacksmithing, pottery, leatherworking, and, of course, wood carving - Senufo wooden masks, belonging to the funeral cult, convey the spirit of Africa like nothing else.
Some Senufo ritual ceremonies (for example, the Dance of the Leopard People) are allowed for tourists.
Comoe National Park is located 570 km from Abidjan, in the northeast of the country. This is another area listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Located between the Buna and Comoe rivers. All types of African crocodiles live here, and hippos graze in the floodplains along the rivers. You can see monkeys, hyenas and indecently sized parrots. And many, many different migratory birds.
The name of this country alone beckons and fascinates. Try saying it several times: Cote D'Ivoire... Cote D'Ivoire... Cote D'Ivoire... You wanted to visit it, didn't you? Then it's time for you to go. Cote D'Ivoire is waiting.
P.S. Do not forget that English is not spoken here, the official language is French, and many residents in the outback do not know it either.
Republic of Cote d'Ivoire.
The name of the country comes from the French cote - “coast”, ivoirc - “ivory”.
Capital of Ivory Coast. Yamoussoukro (official capital), seat of the president and government - Abidjan.
Area of Ivory Coast. 322460 km2.
Population of Ivory Coast. 22.70 million people (
Ivory Coast GDP. $34.25 million (
Location of Ivory Coast. Cote d'Ivoire is a state in Western Europe. In the north it borders with and, in the east - with, in the west - with and. In the south it is washed by the Gulf of Guinea.
Administrative divisions of Côte d'Ivoire. The state is divided into 50 departments.
Form of government of Côte d'Ivoire. Republic
Head of State of Cote d'Ivoire. The president.
Supreme legislative body of Côte d'Ivoire. National People's Assembly (unicameral parliament).
Supreme executive body of Côte d'Ivoire. Cabinet of Ministers.
Major cities of Ivory Coast. Abidjan, Bwake, Daloa.
Official language of Ivory Coast. French.
Religion of Ivory Coast. 65% are pagans, 23% are Muslims, 12% are Christians (mostly).
Ethnic composition of Ivory Coast. 23% - Baule, 18% - Bete, 15% - Senufo, 11% - Malinke.
Currency of Ivory Coast. CFA franc = 100 centimes.
Fauna of Ivory Coast. The territory of the republic is inhabited by jackal, hyena, panther, elephant, chimpanzee, crocodile, brush-eared pigs, several species of lizards and snakes. In the savannas there are antelopes, leopards, cheetahs, and servals.
Rivers and lakes of Ivory Coast. The main rivers are Sassandra, Bandama, Comoe.
Sights of Cote d'Ivoire. In Yamoussoukro - the largest cathedral in the world (height 158 m), built on the model of St. Peter's Basilica in; Abidjan has a large market for traditional goods and picturesque parks.
Useful information for tourists