Highest point of Cote di Voir. Côte d'Ivoire: history, political system, population and economy. Comoe National Park

The Republic of Cote d'Ivoire, also known as the "Coast Ivory" is one of the countries located in West Africa. In the past it was a French colony, but today it is a completely independent state both territorially and politically. The country of Cote d'Ivoire is washed by the waters of the Gulf of Guinea and Atlantic Ocean. By land, the state borders Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea. The territory is 322,460 km. sq.

general information

This is one of the states in which there are at least five dozen ethnic groups. The capital of the country is the city of Yamoussoukro, which is home to almost 250 thousand people. Unlike most European countries, the capital is not always the main city.

In this state, for example, main city- Abidjan, which has a population of approximately 3 million people. Official language in Cote d'Ivoire - French, as a relic of colonial times. In addition to the official one, there are a number of local languages, the most popular being Baule, Bete and Gyula. Compared to many others, this one is quite developed, and the standard of living of the population is quite good.

State symbols of Cote d'Ivoire

The state flag consists of three vertical stripes of equal size: orange, white and green. The first color symbolizes the savannah, the second - peace and unity, the third - forests and hope. There are other interpretations.

The main element of the state's coat of arms is the elephant, which is not only one of the most common animals in the state, but is even present in the name of the country. National anthem was officially adopted as soon as the country became independent, in 1960.

Geography

The territory of the state is predominantly flat, in the south there are tropical rainforests, and in the north there are tall grasses, as in most of Africa, it is very hot, in the south it is equatorial, in the north it is subequatorial. There are three large rivers and several small ones on the territory of the country. Komoe, Sassandra and Bandama are of practically no interest as transport routes, since they consist of many estuaries and rapids, and also periodically dry up.

Among natural resources there are many precious and expensive raw materials. For example, diamonds, gold, oil, gas, nickel, copper, manganese, cobalt, bauxite, etc. In Côte d’Ivoire, tourists can enjoy visiting various national parks. It is in this country that the most developed and beautiful sights of West Africa are located, and one of the parks is even included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

History of Cote d'Ivoire

The map of the territory of this state, like many others, took shape over many thousands of years. A significant part of the peoples living in the modern country came from the northeastern and eastern parts of the continent. Over time, countries with a highly developed system of governance were founded on this territory.

During the Middle Ages, European merchants paved the way to Côte d'Ivoire. The Spaniards and Portuguese were the first to arrive in the country, and later the British and Dutch began to arrive. Hot goods for European merchants were ivory, gold, pepper, and ostrich feathers. Later, the country began to actively participate in the slave trade.

At the end of the 19th century, after long battles between local tribes and French troops, the territory of the country was occupied, and France turned it into its colony. Since 1958, the state has been declared a republic, part of the French Community. In 1960, on August 7, the country finally gained independence.

In the first 25 years after Côte d'Ivoire gained independence, the pace of development of the state continued to gain momentum. However, in 1987, due to a decrease in prices for goods supplied by the country on the world market, a serious decline began in the state's economy.

• Although officially celebrated in France on August 7th, due to field work, most of the population celebrates it on December 7th.
• Residents of the state are very musical. They have a lot of different dances for every significant event. For example, harvest dance, fisherman dance, etc.
• Previously, the country was famous for its forests. Now, most valuable tree species have been destroyed due to fires, land clearing and other reasons.

Conclusion

Like most African countries, today Côte d'Ivoire cannot boast of good development indicators or an excellent standard of living. However, the state still occupies certain niches in the world market. For example, Côte d'Ivoire is the largest supplier of cocoa in the world and a third coffee supplier. Although there are not many enterprises with highly qualified personnel here, the agricultural market still helps the country’s economy stay afloat.

COTE D'IVOIRE
The Republic of Cote d'Ivoire, a state in West Africa, the most rich country from 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 with Ghana, in the north - with Burkina Faso and Mali, in the west - with Guinea and Liberia. Area 322.5 thousand square meters. 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 rises (1752 m), highest point countries. 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 from north to south three geographical zones: Sudanese, forest and coastal. Length coastline OK. 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 somewhat 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 species 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 Guinean oil palms, acacias, breadfruit trees and baobabs, to true grass savannas further 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 Côte 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. Big city Ivory Coast - Abidjan (approx. 2 million inhabitants), followed by Bouaké, a commercial center and transport node in the interior of the country, Daloa in the west, Korhogo in the north and the capital Yamoussoukro in the central region. Ethnic composition 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 distributed in the forests of 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 Bandama River basin 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 Houphouet-Boigny, who was then a leader, doctor and entrepreneur.In 1946-1950 this party collaborated with the French communist party , but then F. Houphouet-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 Côte 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 opponent F. Houphouet-Boigny, a veteran of the opposition movement and leader of the Ivorian People's front (INF) Laurent Gbagbo was defeated. In the same year, a constitutional amendment was adopted regarding the order of succession of power. It provided that in the event of the death of F. Houphouet-Boigny as president, the supreme power in the country passes to his fellow tribesman, Chairman of the National Assembly Henri To Conan 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 decided 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 Countries (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 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 planters hire workers from neighboring countries, mainly from 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 extreme 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 mining; 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 .

The small state in western Africa has long been known to the world as the Land of Slaves, the Land of Grain and the place of the Golden Embankments. The material will introduce you to the country whose name translates as Ivory Coast. Tourists are interested in what kind of people live in this country, what kind of nature there is, what kind of capital it is. Thousands of guests come to Ivory Coast every year for this attraction. The thing is that this city was built by the French, and the local architecture is very close to architecture but at the same time has its own zest.

Coffee Country

The territory of the modern republic began to be populated at the beginning of the Stone Age. The first inhabitants were the pygmies. But they led a nomadic lifestyle. Therefore, soon other tribes came to these lands, those that still live in the state. With the development of colonial conquest, the migration of peoples stopped.

Since the end of the 15th century, Europe exported gold, timber and coffee beans from these regions. 1893 the land was declared

Tribes constantly fought for independence. The maximum uprisings occurred during army recruitment in connection with the First World War.

In 1934, the capital of Côte d'Ivoire was proclaimed. Abidjan became it. Soon, in 1945, the first party was founded, which until then had been a union of local farmers. Felix Houphouet-Boigny created and headed the organization.

In 1957, the country received autonomy status. And on August 7, 1960 it became an independent state. The leader of the above-mentioned party was elected president. By 1979, the state had grown economically. It ranked first in the export of coffee beans. The following years were characterized by drought. This resulted in a decline in development.

City of Cut Leaves

Abidjan is the first official capital. Cote d'Ivoire is a unique region where each settlement has its own legend. This city was no exception. The myth says that when the first European military men intended to build a port on these shores and disembarked from their ships, they met the local population. The peasants carried baskets with cut leaves and branches on their heads.

One of the men asked the Africans what the name of this village was. But the poor did not understand French, in which people from distant lands addressed them. Moreover, they perceived the unknown words as a threat. One man thought that the visitors were dissatisfied with their work. Then the daredevil shouted back to them: “Abidjan,” which meant “these are cut branches.” The Europeans marked the place on the map.

It has long story temporary capital. Cote d'Ivoire is an old country, but it began to grow only at the end of the 19th century. Abidjan was founded in 1896 by French settlers. It is located on the coast and consists of four peninsulas within the Ebrier Lagoon.

The secret center

The population of the city, whose name still sounds like “cut leaves” in the Ebriye dialect, is about 4 million people (and another million if you include the suburbs). Almost everyone speaks French, which is why the city is called the Paris of Africa. This is the second place in the world in terms of the number of French-speaking people (the championship belongs to the city of the Eiffel Tower).

Despite the fact that the new capital of Cote d'Ivoire is Yamoussoukro, Abidjan maintains its leadership position. It is the center of political life. It is the permanent place of work of the president and ministers.

Construction is actively developing here, so another unofficial name is New York of Africa. This is the territory of museums, stadiums and theaters. It has an airport and two ports.

Abidjan is also a city of footballers, more than twenty of whom were finalists

Homeland of the head of state

President Felix Houphouet-Boigny has done a lot for his country. It was under him that the republic flourished and developed. In 1983, a new capital was formed. Cote d'Ivoire was headed by Yamoussoukro. This city is the birthplace of the first ruler. This is the reason for the transfer of the center of the state.

Your beginning locality dates back to the end of the 19th century. It was founded by French colonialists. It was the first center of Ivory Coast until 1934, when Abidjan took its place.

The area is located two hundred kilometers from the Atlantic Ocean. The latter fact was the reason for the long road to economic recovery. The fact is that Europeans preferred to invest money in points that lie on the coastal zone. This is how Abidjan grew. That is why the current capital of the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire remained unnoticed for a long time.

The new history of the city began after the declaration of independence. With the reforms of Felix Houphouet-Boigny, the Ivory Coast began to rise.

Provincial capital

The center of the country has its own airport (only three cities accept planes). Agriculture is actively developing outside its borders. Yams, bananas, and cocoa beans are actively grown. Livestock is represented by goats and sheep. Although most industrial sites are concentrated in Abidjan, Yamoussoukro has food and wood processing companies in its territory.

Although the center was moved, the seat of the central government and foreign ministries remained in Abidjan. Because of this, few foreigners knew that Yamoussoukro was the capital. Cote d'Ivoire developed well and quickly, and in the 1960-1980s they began to invest enormous amounts of money in the city. But already in the 80s, a noticeable crisis began. Declining prices for export goods had a negative impact on development.

General information

The climate in the country varies from tropical to equatorial. The whole year is characterized by high humidity and significant precipitation. The most rain falls in April-July and October-November. Average temperatures are +30.

As of 2010, the city's population was almost 250,000. Most (more than 60%) come from the Bakongo and Bate-ke tribes. Although official language- French, many communicate in their native dialect.

Does not have any high-quality higher educational institutions capital. Cote d'Ivoire today has a big problem with its education system. The center of student life is Abidjan. Every teenager dreams of going to study abroad.

In terms of religious composition, more than 50% are Christians, although in the country as a whole, almost 40% profess Islam. This number of Muslims is due to the fact that a large share of them are illegal immigrants and foreign workers.

Heart of the capital

Tourism is now actively developing. Golden beaches and exotic destinations are attracting more and more travelers. Not only the nature of the country is unique, but also its architecture. Supporters of this art can look at national clay houses covered with palm leaves, or give preference to modern creations.

The pride of Yamoussoukro is the Church of Notre-Dame de la Paix. Anyone who likes religious architecture knows where to go. They know what kind of country it is, what its capital is. Cote d'Ivoire has long called the building its calling card. It was built on the model of St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome. The height is 158 meters. The number of parishioners that the church can accommodate is 11,000. It was decorated with marble from Italy and French colored glass.

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: good climate, unique nature, exotic animals, the most interesting culture of local peoples (and there are more than 60 of them here!), magnificent sandy beaches the shores of the Gulf of Guinea, interesting sights, a lot of hotels of different levels and three international airports.

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 - largest city countries. 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 - 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 Cote 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.

National Park UNESCO included Thais 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 territory included by UNESCO in the Fund world heritage. 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.

The phrase “Ivory Coast” is known to many, but not everyone will draw an analogy with the West African republic of Cote d’Ivoire, but this is the same thing, they just translated the name from French.

Existed until 1960.

This country is amazing not only with its name and history, but also with its cultural component, as well as its nature, all of which often attracts a lot of tourists. It is here that you can experience true African culture and traditions, which are carefully preserved by numerous local tribes. The local nature is also friendly, pleasing with its diversity and colors.

The Republic of Cote d'Ivoire is located on the southern Atlantic coast of the western subregion of Africa, indented by lagoons. Nearby countries:

• Burkina Faso;
• Mali;
• Ghana;
• Guinea;

The proximity to the equator affected the climate; there are two types of it:

• equatorial (south), it is constantly humid here, which is supported by oceanic air, the heat is 22-32 degrees;
• subequatorial (north), characterized by contrasting seasons, dry and cool in winter, up to 12 degrees Celsius, in summer more than 40 degrees and little precipitation.

The tropical forests located in the south are noticeably shrinking due to deforestation, so they are no longer as dense as before, although they are still diverse in species composition. Savannahs occupy the rest of the territory.

And yet there are the most beautiful national parks, known throughout the region, where many travelers come. You can look at the original virgin forest in the following protected reserves:

• Marahuz;

The latter is marked by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

In addition to the legendary ones, Côte d’Ivoire has many other inhabitants, for example:

• monkey;
• rhinoceroses;
• lions;
• giraffes;
• zebras;
• cheetahs;
• buffalos.

Tropical forests naturally have a large number of insects and exotic birds.

The uniqueness of the local nature is also in the fact that the Republic of Cote d Ivoire is one of the few in Africa that has its own drinking water. The system here is abundant, the main ones are:

• Bandama;
• Komoe;
• Sassandra.

The subsoil of Côte d'Ivoire is rich in natural resources:

• gold;
• diamonds;
• oil;
• nickel;
• manganese;
• copper;
• bauxite and other raw materials.

Not least because of this, Ivory Coast has a fairly developed economy, especially when compared with other African states. A special role is given to agriculture; the republic ranks first in the world in the supply of the following goods:

• cocoa;
• coffee.

They also grow for export:

• rubber;
• Palm oil;
• cotton;
• bananas;
• tobacco;
• pineapples.

The strengthening of the gas and oil industries contributes to continuous development.

And yet, in Côte d’Ivoire there are also problematic aspects:

• insufficient funding for education;
• a large number of poor people;
• instability.

Tourists are attracted to these regions not so much by the capital of the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire, but by the natural and cultural riches of the various peoples who love and live with it, as well as other manifestations of creativity.

The local art is the best in the region, and each ethnic group has a unique flavor.

The attractions here are:

• the largest Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace;
• the Gbon Coulibaly Museum with vivid examples of folk crafts;
• Mont Tonqui waterfall;
• Comoe National Park.

The local kitchen is a special asset, because traditional dishes Tribes of fish and meat are complemented with French charm, especially the sauces - they are amazing.

Capital of the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire

Everyone can find out that the official capital of the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire is Yamoussoukro, located in the center of the country. A president was once born here, and in 1983 he appointed his hometown as the main one.

It is a small settlement with traditional buildings and a small number of inhabitants. Of the modern buildings there are only:

• town hall;
• National Palace;
• Higher National School;
• hotels.

Enterprises of the woodworking and food industries are also located here. But even this does not allow the city to be prosperous and influential, therefore the actual capital of the Republic of Cote d Ivoire is Abidjan, which previously played this role.

But there is a unique place that attracts many travelers to Yamoussoukro, we are talking about a unique example of the Church of Notre-Dame de la Pax. This Christian cathedral is the highest in the world, while it is almost identical to St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. The hall of the building is decorated with original stained glass windows, amazing in size and quantity (36 pieces).