THE LAND
of the Ivory Coast

 

Geography

The Ivory Coast is a nearly square-shaped country (slightly larger than New Mexico) located on the Atlantic seabord of West Africa. It is bounded on the south by the Gulf of Guinea and in other directions by five surrounding nations, including Liberia and Guinea (west), Mali and Burkina Faso (north), and Ghana (east). These boundaries were established by the French in 1893. The Ivory Coast derived its name from the huge herds of elephants and the ivory trade flourishing at that time. Consequently, today, the elephant population is much smaller, the elephant trade is outlawed, and its green forests and golden savannahs are bustling with economic activity.


Three major topographic zones (the plains, the plateaux, and the mountains) and two vegetative zones (the forest and savannah) divide the land.

The Plains

The plains begin at the coast (which is 507 km of palm trees, sand, and pounding surf, interrupted by 100 miles of gentle fingerlike lagoons stretching east and west of Abijan, the legislative capital city). From the coast, swampy plains stretch inland about 280 km to the north. A thick and thriving tropical forest, covering the southern half of the country, is maintained by the constant heat and humidity of the plains region. Yet, near Abijan, the forest is disappearing slowly as a result of growing plantations of pineapples, bananas, and oil palms.

Plateaux

In the northern area, a massive plateau begins at about 280 meters with scattered mounds and hills. This land becomes the savannah, sparsely wooded grasslands that turn brown during the long dry season and green during the rains. The fairly dry climate makes the land here inhospitable to most large trees, except the baobab, which can store water in its trunks for long periods of time. In addition, the three main rivers of the country (the Bandama, the Sassandra, and the Comoe) all have their source in the northern plateaux and eventually empty into the Atlantic.

Mountains

In the northwest between Man and Odienne, a ridge of highlands rises as part of a vast group of mountains and hills that has its midpoint in Guinea. The peak of these mountains is at the summit of Mt. Nimba (1732 meters), which is located at the point where the Ivory Coast meets both Guinea and Liberia. The Man region contains a mountainous forested area, highlighted with Mt. Tonkoui (1278 meters) and the famous thrusting rock formation called "Dent de Man."

Wildlife

The Forests and Savannahs of the Ivory Coast are homes to a variey of animal life. Herds of elephants roam the southwest forest region, along with the red buffalo, antelope, wild hog, leopards, hyenas, and many small animals. Hippos bath in the southern rivers, while monkeys range throughout the country, especially in the dense forests. Stretching over one million hectares in the northwest wooded savannah, the Comoe National Park hosts elephants, antelopes, buffaloes, lions, and leopards. Offering many different ecological niches, the lagoon region is inhabited by a great variety of birds, like ducks, plovers, egrets, herons, terns, parrots, and taracos. The crocodile (known as the king of the Ivorian reptiles) is commonly found in streams, in addition to some common snakes like green mambas, vipers, cobras, and pythons.

Climate

Just north of the equator, the Ivory Coast's climate has year-round high temperatures. In general, November is the hottest month, while July is the coldest. The southern half of the country is characterized by a tropical climate of about 27 degrees celsius with high humidity. A long rainy season from April to June drenches the land and is followed by a shorter rainy season from October to November. In some places the average rainfall can reach 200cm. In contrast, the northern climate is much drier and has greater differences in temperature. Here, only one rainy season occurs from May to October, with an average yearly rainfall of about 117 cm. An annual cold, dry northeasterly wind, called the harmattan, blows down from the Sahara desert in Decmber and July.

Vegetation

The lush forest zone offers a great variety of plants, from large trees to shrubs, vines, and herbs. Among these trees are the giant dracaenas, the bombax, climbing palms, oil palms, and many species yielding natural rubber. Native trees of commercial value also include the kola tree, the West African coffee tree, and the African mahogany and cedar. Oil and coconut palms thrive on the coast, while orchids, ferns, and aroids cover the forest floor.

Natural Resources

The chief resources of the Ivory Coast are its rich soil and abundant water supply. Commercially extracted minerals include diamonds and manganese, while there is a possibility of mining ore, gold, bauxite, lithium, and colombo-tantalite.

Cities

The population of the Ivory Coast (over 14 million people) is mostly rural (60%). Population density is about 42 persons per square kilometer. The largest cities include Abijan and Bouake, while several smaller cities exist throughout the country, including Daloa, Yamoussoukro, and Gagnoa.