Guinea post. Capital of Guinea

Area, sq. km	245857
Flag
Population, people	11176026 (2013)
Capital	Conakry
Big cities	Conakry, Nzerekore, Kindia
date of independence	October 2, 1958
highest point	Nimba (1752 m)
Official language	French
Religion	Islam (Sunni)
Currency unit	Guinean franc
Political system	presidential republic
Telephone code	+224
Domain zone	.gn

Guinea is an African state located in the west of the continent. Neighbor states: Côte d'Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Senegal, Mali.

In the 19th century, Guinea was under the influence of France, which controlled almost the entire territory of West Africa. A protectorate was created, banana and coffee plantations were planted. However, the French faced a strong opposition. The national liberation movement flared up, led by Sekou Turve. "Better poverty in freedom than wealth in slavery," said A. Sekou Toure, who became the first president of independent Guinea in 1958. The population of Guinea fought for complete liberation from the French, being ardent supporters of the theory of pan-Africanism. As a result, on October 2, 1958, Guinea gained its long-awaited independence. The official language is French.

Guinea is inhabited by ethnic groups, speakers of the Mande and Fulbe language groups. They have little in common, but ethnographically they open up a wide field for research. The Mande peoples are farmers, the Fulbe peoples are pastoralists. The largest ethnic group are the Fula, who live on the arid central plateau. Malinke live in the savannah of Upper Guinea, while Susu live in marshy coastal areas. Forested mountains are located in the southeast of Guinea.

The majority of Guineans are Muslims, a small number of the population adheres to traditional beliefs and rituals.

The financial situation of Guinea remains difficult, despite the huge reserves of bauxite and diamonds that lie in the bowels of the country. Guinea has many natural resources. The mining industry is very developed. Bauxites, diamonds, gold, black and non-ferrous ores are mined here. Thanks to the vast water reserves, the hydropower industry is also developed. The economy is agrarian in nature, as agriculture remains the main activity. Moreover, the economy is often focused not on commodity, but on subsistence farming. Over 70% of the population is employed in the rural economy. Grow bananas, corn, cassava, rice, cocoa. More than half of the territory of the state is occupied by forests.

Guinea has a military form of government. The economy is controlled by the government. The President is the head of state and government.

The nature of this region is very picturesque due to the contrasts. Either vast arid lands stretch before you, or impenetrable evergreen jungles. The heights of Futa - Dzhallon (over 1500 m) attract the attention of tourists. The Bafar waterfall further decorates this plateau, perfect in the natural sense. Ile - de - Los - a group of islands in the Atlantic, not far from the mainland, designed for sophisticated tourists. It has all the conditions for a great holiday, including cruises. The richness of biological species adorns the already outlandish picture of the unique African landscape.

Friendly hospitable people and a pleasant climate will complement the dignity of Guinea.

History of Guinea

XV century: the territory of Guinea was part of the early state formations of Ghana and Mali.
18th century: in the center of the countries, a military-theocratic state of the cattle-breeding tribes of the Fulbe Futa Dzhallon was formed.
Second half of the 19th century: France took over the country. The Europeans carried on a predatory slave trade, especially in the coastal regions.
1889-1893: Guinea is declared a French colony, in 1895 it is separated into a separate colony called French Guinea.
1958: Guinea gained independence. President Sekou Toure established an authoritarian regime.
1979-1984: The country was called the People's Revolutionary Republic of Guinea.
1984: after the death of C. Touré, the military came to power.
1990: A new constitution ends the military regime. Establishment of a multiparty system.

The territory of modern Guinea has been inhabited since prehistoric times. In the Middle Ages, the territory of modern Guinea was part of various African states. Then Europeans began to arrive here, and by the 17th century they were already selling Guineans into slavery on American plantations. From 1891 to 1958 Guinea was a French colony. Sekou Toure's government failed to improve the standard of living of the population, and after his death, in 1984, power passed to the military government, headed by Colonel Lansana Conte. The first multi-party elections, held in Guinea in 1993, were again won by the Conte government.

Interesting facts about Guinea:

In Guinea, colossal reserves of fresh water in West Africa are concentrated in the form of the Niger River.
Guinea is the world's largest supplier of bauxite.
Sekou Toure was the man who ruled Guinea from 1958 to 1984.

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 distributed very unevenly 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 uplands (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%).

Republic of Guinea. State in West Africa. The capital is the city of Conakry (1.77 million people - 2003). Territory - 245.9 thousand square meters. km. Administrative-territorial division - 8 provinces. Population - 9.69 million people. (2006, estimate). The official language is French. Religion - Islam, Christianity and traditional African beliefs. The monetary unit is the Guinean franc. National holiday - October 2, Independence Day (1958). Guinea has been a member of the UN since 1958, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) since 1963, and since 2002 its successor, the African Union (AU). Member of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) since 1975, the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) since 1969, the International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF), the Union of the States of the Mano River Basin (CHM) since 1980. Guinea. The capital is Conakry. Population - 9030 thousand people (2003). Population density - 31 people per 1 sq. km. km. Urban population - 23%, rural - 77%. Area - 245.9 thousand square meters. km. The highest point is Mount Nimba (1752 m). The main languages are Fulbe, Malinke, Susu, French (official). The main religions are Islam, local traditional beliefs. Administrative-territorial division - 8 provinces. Currency: Guinean franc = 100 centimes. National holiday: Independence Day - 2 October. National anthem: "Freedom"

Geographic location and boundaries.

Continental State. It borders Guinea-Bissau in the northwest, Senegal in the north, Mali in the north and northeast, Ivory Coast in the east, Liberia and Sierra Leone in the south. The western part of the country is washed by waters of the Atlantic Ocean.The length of the coastline is 320 km.

Nature.

The territory of Guinea is divided into four physiographic regions. The first of them, located in the west of the country, - Lower, or Primorskaya, Guinea - is a flat lowland up to 32 km wide, with heights less than 150 m above sea level. The swampy strip of the coast is covered with mangroves, dense rocks come to the surface only in the Conakry region. Lower Guinea is an area of commodity-export agriculture. Mostly representatives of the Susu people live here. The Kogon, Fatala and Konkure rivers cutting through the lowland originate in the deep valleys of the second region - Central Guinea. Here the sandstone massif Futa-Dzhallon with peaks of 1200-1400 m crosses the country from north to south. The highest point of the plateau, located north of Labe, is Mount Tamge (1538 m). Central Guinea is characterized by the predominance of savannah landscapes, in the highest places there are mountain meadows. The area is inhabited by the Fulbe people. The predominant occupation of the population is animal husbandry.

To the east of the Futa-Jallon massif, on the plains in the basin of the upper reaches of the Niger River, lies Upper Guinea. This is an area of savannas inhabited mainly by malinque farmers.

Forest Guinea, located in the southeast of the country, occupies part of the North Guinea Upland with small massifs of remnant mountains. Here, near the border with Liberia in the Nimba mountains, is the highest point of Guinea (1752 m). In this area, the background is savannas, in some areas, especially along the river valleys, tropical forests have been preserved. In Forest Guinea, there are many small peoples who are engaged in agriculture.

The climate of Guinea is characterized by a pronounced contrast between the wet season, which lasts from May to October (and on the coast - longer than on the plains of the northeast) and the dry season, when a hot wind blows from the northeast - harmatan. With the exception of its northernmost part, the coastal lowland is reliably protected by mountains from dry winds. Moist southwesterly winds bring heavy rainfall that falls on the western slopes of the mountains. The Conakry region is characterized by an average annual rainfall of 4300 mm, of which 4000 mm falls during the wet season. In the interior, an average of 1300 mm falls annually. High temperatures prevail throughout the year, rarely falling below 15°C, and sometimes reaching 38°C.

The Futa-Jallon massif is characterized by the highest population density, where cattle, sheep and goats graze in the mountain meadows of the Fulbe, and various agricultural crops are grown in the fertile valleys. Of export importance is coffee, which is produced in Central and Upper Guinea, as well as bananas grown in the coastal lowlands and in the valleys near the railway. In a number of coastal areas, mangroves have been cleared for rice fields.

Minerals - diamonds, aluminum, bauxite, granite, graphite, iron, gold, limestone, cobalt, manganese, copper, nickel, pyrite, platinum, lead, titanium, chromium, zinc, etc.

Dense branched river network (Bafing, Kogon, Konkure, Tomine, Fatala, Forekarya, etc.). On the territory of Guinea, the rivers Niger (one of the largest in Africa) and the Gambia originate.

Population.

Malinke live in the interior of the country, mainly in the Niger basin, Susu (presumably the most ancient inhabitants of the savannas) - on the coast, including the strip between Conakry and Kindia. The main occupation of the Mande-speaking peoples, who make up about half of the country's population, is agriculture. The warlike Fulbe cattle breeders who appeared in these places in the 16th century inhabit mainly the central part of the country - the Futa-Jallon massif. A number of small ethnic groups are distributed along the coast, on the western slopes of the Phuta Djallon plateau and in Forest Guinea. The old enmity between the Mande-speaking rural population and the Fulbe conquering pastoralists, which has now taken the form of rivalry for political hegemony in the country, has not been eliminated.

Approximately 90% of Guineans are Muslims. Most of the rest are adherents of local traditional beliefs and cults. Although the first Christian missions were established in present-day Guinea in the 19th century, the number of Christians is negligible.

The average population density is 34 people. per 1 sq. km (2002). Its average annual growth is 2.63%. Birth rate - 41.76 per 1000 people, mortality - 15.48 per 1000 people. Child mortality - 90 per 1000 newborns. 44.4% of the population are children under 14 years of age. Residents who have reached the age of 65 - 3.2%. The median age of the population is 17.7 years. Fertility rate (average number of children born per woman) - 5.79. Life expectancy - 49.5 years (men - 48.34, women - 50.7). (All figures are given in estimates for 2006).

Guinea is a multi-ethnic state. The African population is over 97%, there are approx. 30 nationalities and ethnic groups. The largest of these are Fulbe (40%), Malinke (30%) and Susu (20%) - 2002. Their languages are the most widely spoken of the local languages. OK. 7% of the population are Baga, Basari, Dialonke, Kisi, Kpelle (or Gerze), Landum, Mikifore, Nalu, Tiapi, etc. Approx. 3% of the population are Europeans, Lebanese, Moors and Syrians.

The rural population is over 70% (2004). Large cities (in thousand people, 2003) are Nzerekore (120.1), Kankan (112.2) and Kindia (106.3). Guinean labor migrants and refugees are in Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia and other African and European countries. There are refugees from Sierra Leone in Guinea.

Religions.

According to estimates, 85% of the country's population are Muslims, 8% are Christians (the majority are Catholics), 7% of Guineans adhere to traditional African beliefs (animalism, fetishism, cult of ancestors, forces of nature, etc.) - 2003.

The first Muslims on the territory of modern Guinea appeared in the 12th century. The massive penetration of Islam began in the 15-16th century. AD from the territory of modern Mauritania and other countries of the Maghreb. Islam of the Sunni (See also SUNNITS) direction of the Maliki persuasion is widespread. The Sufi orders (tarikats) Tijaniya, Qadiriyya, Barkhayya (or Barkiya) and Shadiliyya (see SUFISM) enjoy a certain influence among the Muslims of the country. Christianity began to spread in the beginning. 19th century The first Christian missionaries (mostly members of monastic Catholic orders from France) appeared in the country at the end. 19th century

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

State device.

Guinea is a republic. The constitution adopted on December 23, 1991, as amended in November 2001, is in force. The head of state is the president, who, according to this amendment, is elected by universal secret ballot for a 7-year term. The President can be elected to this post more than once. Legislative power is exercised by a unicameral parliament (National Assembly), which consists of 114 deputies elected by popular vote for 5 years. 1/3 of the Parliament is elected from single-member constituencies, and 2/3 - on the basis of proportional representation.

President - Conte Lansana (Lansana Conté). Elected December 21, 2003. Previously elected in 1993 and 1998. Has been president since April 5, 1984.

State flag. A rectangular panel consisting of three vertical stripes of the same size - red (at the pole), yellow and green.

administrative device.

The country is divided into 8 provinces, which consist of 34 prefectures.

Judicial system.

Based on the French civil law system. There are the Supreme Judicial Council, the Supreme Court, the High Court, the State Security Court and the Magistrates' Courts.

Armed Forces and Defense.

The national armed forces were created on the basis of the units that were part of the colonial army. In the beginning. In 2005, their number (ground forces, air force and navy) amounted to 20 thousand people. Service in the army (2 years) is carried out on a mandatory basis. In November 2005, mass layoffs were carried out (about 2 thousand people) from the army of officers, incl. and generals. Defense spending in 2005 was $119.7 million (2.9% of GDP).

Foreign policy.

It is based on the policy of non-alignment. Guinea maintains good neighborly relations with Senegal and Guinea-Bissau, including within the framework of the Organization for the Efficient Use of the Gambia's Resources. Takes part in solving regional problems in Africa, incl. conflict resolution in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Diplomatic relations between the USSR and Guinea were established on October 4, 1958. The Soviet Union assisted Guinea in the construction of industrial facilities, the creation of scientific research centers, and the training of national personnel. In December 1991, the Russian Federation was recognized as the legal successor of the USSR. In 1990 - beginning. In the 2000s, intergovernmental contacts continued to develop (including in 2001, President Conte paid an official visit to Moscow), as well as relations in the field of military-technical cooperation, the economy and the training of national personnel for Guinea. Some Russian firms are active in the Guinean market (in May 2006, Russian Aluminum bought the Phrygia bauxite mining complex, located 150 km from the capital).
political organizations.
The country has a multi-party system. The most influential of the political parties:

- "Party of Unity and Progress", PEP (Parti de l "unité et du progrès, PUP), leader - Conte Lansana (Lansana Conté), acting general sec. - Sekou Konaté. Ruling party, founded in 1992;

- "Union for progress and renewal", SPO (Union pour le progrès et le renouveau, UPR), chairman - Ousmane Bah. The party was created in September 1998 as a result of the merger of the "Party of Renewal and Progress" and the "Union for a New Republic";

- "Unification of the Guinean people", OGN (Rassemblement populaire guinéen, RPG), leaders - Conde Alpha (Alpha Condé) and Cisse Ahmed Tidian (Ahmed Tidiane Cissé). Party of the main in 1992.

trade union associations.

"National Confederation of Workers of Guinea", CNTG (Confédération nationale des travailleurs de Guinée, CNTG). Established in 1984. The General Secretary is Mohamed Samba Kébé.

ECONOMY

Guinea belongs to the group of the poorest countries in the world. The basis of the economy is the agricultural sector. OK. 40% of the population is below the poverty line (2003).

Labor resources.

In 2001, the economically active population of the country amounted to 4.1 million people, of which 3.43 million people were employed in agriculture.

Agriculture.

The share of the agricultural sector in GDP is 23.7% (2005). 4.47% of the land is cultivated (2005). The main cash crops are pineapples, peanuts, bananas, coffee, oilseeds and citrus fruits. Sweet potato, legumes, corn, mango, cassava, vegetables, rice, sugarcane, fonio (millet) and yams are also grown. Animal husbandry (breeding of goats, cattle, horses, sheep, donkeys and pigs) and poultry farming are developing. Agriculture is conducted by backward methods with poor technical equipment. It does not fully provide the population with food. In forestry, wood is harvested (including valuable varieties) and sawn timber is produced. The export of raw timber is prohibited. Fishing is carried out in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and rivers. The catch of fish (mullet, mackerel, stingray, sardinella, etc.) and seafood in 2000 was 91.5 thousand tons.

Industry.

Its share in GDP is 36.2% (2005). The main and most dynamically developing industry is the mining industry, which provides up to 80% of foreign exchange earnings. Bauxites (30% of the world's proven reserves), aluminum ore (average annual production averages 2.2 million tons), gold, diamonds, iron and granite are being commercially mined. The manufacturing industry is poorly developed, there are factories and factories for processing fish, producing flour, palm oil, etc.

International trade.

The volume of imports exceeds the volume of exports: in 2005, imports (in US dollars) amounted to 680 million, exports - 612.1 million. The basis of imports are oil products, metal, machinery, vehicles, textiles, grain and food. The main import partners are Côte d'Ivoire (15.1%), France (8.7%), Belgium and China (5.9% each) and South Africa (4.6%) - 2004. Main export commodities - aluminum, bauxite (Guinea is one of the world's largest exporters), gold, diamonds, coffee, fish.The main export partners are France (17.7%), Belgium and the UK (14.7% each), Switzerland (12 .8%) and Ukraine (4.2%) - 2004.
Energy.

The energy system of the country is underdeveloped, the demand for electricity is noticeably ahead of the supply. Guinea has significant hydropower potential. Electricity production in 2003 amounted to 775 million kilowatt-hours.

Transport.

Transport infrastructure is poorly developed. The functioning of the roads is complicated by frequent tropical downpours. The first railway was built in 1910. The total length of railways is 837 km (2004). The total length of motorways is 44.3 thousand km (4.3 thousand km have a hard surface) - 2003. The merchant fleet has 35 ships (2002). The seaports of Kamsar and Conakry are of international importance. The length of river waterways is 1300 km. There are 16 airports and runways (5 of them are paved) - 2005. Gbessia International Airport is located in Conakry.

Finance and credit.

The monetary unit is the Guinean franc (GNF), which is divided into 100 centimes. The national currency was put into circulation on March 1, 1960. In December 2005, the national currency rate was: 1 USD = 2,550 GNF.

Tourism.

Foreign tourists are attracted by the beauty of natural landscapes, historical and architectural monuments, and the original culture of local peoples. In 2000, 32.6 thousand foreign tourists from France (more than 7 thousand), Senegal, Belgium and others visited Guinea. Tourism income in 2002 amounted to 12 million US dollars (in 1998 - 1 million US dollars) .

Sights - the National Museum in the capital, mosques in the cities of Kankan and Farana, the picturesque Bafara waterfall, etc. Many Russian travel agencies provide the opportunity to visit Guinea.

SOCIETY AND CULTURE

Education.

In the pre-colonial period, an extensive network of Muslim (Quranic) schools existed on the territory of the country. Already in con. 17th century centers of Muslim education were formed in the cities of Kankan and Tubu. The first European-style schools are open in con. 19th century in Christian missions.

Compulsory is a 6-year education, which children begin to receive at the age of seven. Secondary education (7 years) begins at the age of 13 and takes place in two stages (the first is a four-year study at a college, the second is a three-year study at a lyceum). According to the UNESCO World Humanitarian Development Report 2003, Guinea is among the countries with the lowest rate of girls' access to primary and secondary education.

The higher education system includes two universities (in the cities of Conakry and Kankan) and institutes located in the cities of Boke and Faranah. In 2002, at the University in Conakry (founded in 1962), 824 teachers worked at four faculties and 5 thousand students studied, at the University in Kankan (created in 1963, received university status in 1987) - respectively 72 teachers and more than one thousand students . Several research centers operate, incl. Guinea Pasteur Institute and National Institute for Scientific Research and Documentation. In the beginning. 2000s were literate approx. 35.9% of the population (49.9% men and 21.9% women).

Healthcare.

Architecture.

The main type of traditional dwelling is a round (6-10 m in diameter) hut under a thatched cone-shaped roof. In different parts of the country, these huts are distinguished by the material used in the construction of their walls: the so-called. “banco” (a building material made from a mixture of clay and straw), wattle covered with clay, stakes driven into the ground or bamboo mats suspended from a wooden frame. The houses of urban dwellers are mainly rectangular buildings under a flat roof and with a kind of terrace. A special kind of architecture is the construction of mosques. The business districts of modern cities are built up with multi-storey buildings made of brick, reinforced concrete structures and glass. Soviet specialists took part in the design and construction of some administrative and cultural facilities (radio center, the USSR embassy in Conakry, the Rogbane scientific center, etc.).

Fine Arts and Crafts.

The surviving objects of fine art (helmet-shaped nimbus masks, polychrome banda masks, round sculptures of the Baga and Temne peoples, etc.) of the peoples inhabiting the territory of modern Guinea date back to the 14th-15th centuries. Objects of ancient art of Guinea are presented in expositions and private collections of many museums in the world, incl. Hermitage and the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (Kunstkamera) in St. Petersburg.

Professional visual arts began to develop after independence. Artists: D.Kadiatou, M.Conde, M.B.Kossa, Matinez Sirena, K.Nanuman, M.K.Fallo, M.Fills. Many of the national artists were educated in the USSR.

Crafts and arts and crafts are well developed - wood and ivory carving, metal processing (casting and chasing), pottery, production of popular prints, leather processing, weaving, jewelry art (including filigree work on gold and silver), and also weaving (making colorful baskets, fans, mats, etc.).

Literature.

Based on the traditions of oral art (myths, songs, proverbs and fairy tales) of local peoples. A large role in the preservation of the folklore tradition belongs to the griots (a caste of wandering actors, storytellers, musicians and singers in the countries of West Africa). In the pre-colonial period, only the Fulbe people had written literary monuments in the local language (large poems called “qasyds”).

Modern literature develops in French. One of the founders of national literature is the writer Kamara Ley. Other writers - William Sasein, Tierno Monemembo, A. Fanture, Emil Sise. Many works of Guinean writers were published in France. Notable Guinean poets are Lunsaini Kaba, Nene Khali and Rai Otra.

Music and theatre.

The national musical culture is diverse, formed as a result of the interaction of the traditions of numerous local peoples. Professional musical art (the creation of palace orchestras at the courts of African rulers) developed in the Middle Ages. The musical culture of Guinea was greatly influenced by Arabic music.

Playing musical instruments, songs and dances are an inseparable part of the national culture. Rich musical traditions in Guinea have been preserved and continue to develop today. The musical art of the griots has been preserved, which accompany themselves mainly on the bark (string instrument). The musical instrumentation is diverse: drums (from small tamaru to giant dun-dun - bote, droma, dundumba, tamani, etc.), balafons, castanets, rattles (lala, sistrum vasama), dudaru horn, rattles, flutes (serdu, hula ). There are many stringed instruments: harps (baleil, haububataken), bolen (musical bow), keperu (violin), kerona, keronara (guitar), condival, horses, bark, molar. Orchestral performance of music is popular. The first national orchestra was created in 1959.

Solo and choral singing is widespread. Epic tales and laudatory songs are popular. Famous singers and musicians - Ahmed Traore, M.Vandel, M.Kuyate, Mamamu Kamara, Sori Kandia Kuyate. In 2004, the Guinean kora virtuoso Ba Sissoko (his compositions are a symbiosis of traditional African motifs and modern rhythms) became one of the finalists of the international competition called "Music of the World" (since 1981 with the aim of promoting the development of national music in Africa, the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean zone is conducted by Radio France International).

Elements of the theater were present in numerous ceremonies and rituals that were performed on various holidays. In 1948 an ensemble of African music and dance was created under the name Balle Afriken; after independence, he repeatedly performed on tour in Asia, America and Europe (in 1961 - in the USSR). The professional ballet ensemble "Joliba" performed in the Soviet Union in 1966 and 1971. The French school of William Ponty in Dakar (Senegal) had a great influence on the formation of national theatrical art, in which many Guinean actors, playwrights and directors were trained in the 1930s. One of the first Guinean playwrights is Emile Cisse.

Cinema.

The production of documentaries began in the first half of the 1960s. One of the first documentaries - Revolution in Action (1966, directed by A. Aksana), Eight and Twenty (1967, directed by D. Costa), And Freedom Came (1969, directed by Sekou Umar Barry). The first feature films, Black Skin (1967) and Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow (1968), were directed by D. Costa. The first full-length feature film was Sgt. Bakari Woolen (1968, directed by Mohammed Lamin Akin). Other film directors - Alfa Bald, A. Dabo, K. Diana, M. Toure. The USSR provided active assistance in the training of national personnel. Since 1968, filmmakers from Guinea have actively participated in international film festivals in Asia and Africa, which were held in Tashkent. Weeks of Guinean cinema were held in Moscow in 1970 and 1973. Until 1992, weeks of Soviet cinema were regularly held in Guinea, later screenings of works by Russian filmmakers were held.
Press, radio broadcasting, television and the Internet.
Published in French:

Daily government newspaper "Horoya" (Horoya, translated from the Susu language - "Dignity");

Government Gazette "Journal officiel de Guinée" (Journal officiel de Guinée - "Guinean Official Gazette"), published twice a month;

Monthly magazine "Fonike" (Fonikee).

The Guinea Press Agency, AGP (Agence guinéenne de presse, AGP) has been operating since 1960 and is located in Conakry. The government's "Guinean Broadcasting and Television Service" (Radiodiffusion-télévision guinéenne, RTG) is also located in the capital. National television has been operating since May 1977. Radio and television programs are broadcast in French, English, Arabic and Portuguese, as well as in some local languages. In 2005, there were 46,000 Internet users in Guinea.

STORY

In the 10-11 centuries. most of the northeast of modern Guinea was part of the state of Ghana. The mines near Sigiri probably produced some of Ghana's gold, which was exchanged in the cities of the Sahel for salt and other goods from North Africa. In the 12th century The empire of Ghana collapsed, and in the 13th century. in its place, the empire of Mali arose, created by the Malinke people. Islam spread widely among the nobility and townspeople. Until the beginning of the 16th century. Mali remained a powerful force in the region. Later, a significant part of the territory of Mali was captured by the Songhai empire of Gao in the east and the state of Tekrur, created by the Fulani, in the west. In the middle of the 17th century. The Bambara of Segou overthrew the Malinque Emperor.

By that time, the center of trade had moved to the coast, where intense competition between Portuguese, English and French slave traders unfolded. However, in this part of the West African coast, the slave trade was less widespread than on the coast of Nigeria, Dahomey and Senegal. After the official ban on the slave trade in the early 19th century. the coastal regions of present-day Guinea continued to attract human traffickers, as the heavily indented coastline provided safe hiding places for slave ships hunted by British warships. In the middle of the 19th century The slave trade was replaced by trade in peanuts, palm oil, hides and rubber. European merchants settled in several trading posts and paid tribute to the leaders of local tribes. The attempts of the leaders to increase the size of the tribute ended with the fact that in 1849 France established its protectorate over the Boke region.

At the beginning of the 18th century on the territory of the Futa-Jallon plateau, a powerful state of the Fulbe arose. Islam became his state religion, which then spread among the inhabitants of the coastal regions, many of whom paid tribute to the Fulbe leaders. Further development of European trade and the creation of new strongholds on the coast in the middle of the 19th century. led to friction between the French and the Fulani leaders, who in 1861 were persuaded to recognize the French protectorate over Boke. A few years earlier, Haj Omar, a militant religious reformer from eastern Senegal, settled in Fouta Djallon. By 1848, his popularity among the local population had grown so much that it began to cause concern among the leaders of the Fulbe. Hajj Omar was forced to move to Dingirai, where he declared jihad (holy war) on the territory of Western Sudan, primarily the kingdoms of Segu and Masina. In 1864, in a battle with the soldiers of Masina, Haj Omar died, and his son Ahmadu took his place. In 1881, he concluded an agreement with the French, according to which the territory along the left bank of the Niger up to Timbuktu came under the protectorate of France. Later, Ahmadu tried to renounce this treaty, but in 1891-1893 he was removed from power by the French.
The longest and most decisive resistance to the French colonialists was provided by Samori Touré. Malinka by ethnicity, he captured Kankan in 1879 and created a Muslim state southeast of Sigiri. In 1887 and 1890, the French concluded treaties of friendship with Samory, but then denounced them, and hostilities resumed. In 1898, the French captured Samory Touré near Man in the west of modern Côte d'Ivoire and sent him into exile, where he died. First World War.

In 1895, Guinea was included in French West Africa, and in 1904, after the British handed over the Los Islands to the French, the borders of the colony were established. During the period of French colonial rule, the Guineans were deprived of elementary political rights, paid a poll tax, they were mobilized for unpaid forced labor and military service.

In 1946, France agreed to the creation of an elected territorial assembly in Guinea and gradually softened the property and educational qualifications for voting. In 1957, the entire adult population of the colony could participate in the elections, and the Government Council was created - a territorial body of executive power, consisting of Guineans.

The influence of the Democratic Party of Guinea (PDG), a grassroots political organization led by trade unionist Sekou Toure, grew rapidly. Thanks to the propaganda work of party activists in 1958, almost the entire population of Guinea voted in a referendum against the new French constitution and for the country's withdrawal from the French Community. As a result, Guinea gained independence on October 2, 1958.

The choice of the Guineans in favor of independence resulted in the loss of French economic assistance and investment, a guaranteed market for export products and technical assistance from qualified specialists. The urgent need for economic and technical assistance forced the new government to turn to the USSR and China for help, which led to even greater isolation of Guinea from France and its allies. In 1965, Guinea severed diplomatic relations with France, accusing her of participating in a conspiracy to overthrow the Guinean government. By the end of the 1960s, Guinea had established relations with a number of Western states, which was largely due to the interest of the country's leadership in foreign investment. However, the nationalization of trade and the agricultural sector resulted in stagnation in all sectors of the Guinean economy, except for mining. Although Sekou Toure himself retained his authority among the population, the government's course became less and less popular, and many thousands of Guineans emigrated.

In November 1970, Guinean emigrants, who were in opposition to the Sekou Toure regime, took part in an armed invasion of Guinea, which was organized with the support of Portugal. This action pursued two main goals: the overthrow of the Sekou Toure government and the defeat of the bases of the partisans who fought for the liberation of Portuguese Guinea (now Guinea-Bissau). The rebels were quickly defeated. After the failed attempt at aggression, mass purges were carried out in the state apparatus and the armed forces of Guinea. In August 1977, a wave of riots swept through the cities, during which several provincial governors appointed by the DPG were killed. After these events, the policy of the Guinean leadership changed dramatically. In the late 1970s, political repression eased, the masses were given the opportunity to participate in public life, and private trade was allowed. Guinea's relations with neighboring African states and Western countries have improved. In 1976 diplomatic relations with France were restored.

Sekou Toure died on March 26, 1984, and already on April 3, 1984, a group of military personnel led by Colonel Lansana Conte carried out a bloodless coup. The military authorities disbanded the DPD and released all political prisoners. The economic reforms of the Conte regime did not bring positive results. In 1991, a new constitution was adopted, providing for the creation of a transitional government, and then a multi-party republic. As a first step towards the transition to civilian rule, the activities of political parties were legalized. According to the results of the first multi-party elections in the history of the country, Conte was elected president in 1993. The parliamentary elections of 1995, accompanied by numerous clashes and acts of violence, were won by the Unity and Progress Party, headed by Conte.

In 1996, Conte appointed a new cabinet of ministers and introduced the post of prime minister, appointed by the president. Conte entrusted the government with the task of more vigorously pursuing an economic reform program that included cutting public spending, fighting corruption and improving the efficiency of the tax system.

In the presidential elections held on December 14, 1998, Conte again won (56.1% of the vote). 71.4% of voters participated in the elections. According to the results of the national referendum (November 2001), the term of office of the president of the country, starting from the 2003 elections, was extended to 7 years. In the parliamentary elections (June 30, 2002), a landslide victory (85 out of 114 seats in the National Assembly) was won by the presidential Unity and Progress Party (PEP). The Union for Progress and Renewal (SPO) won 20 seats.

The opposition boycotted the presidential elections, which took place on December 21, 2003, and as a result, Conte was re-elected for a third term (95.63% of the vote). 86.1% of voters participated in the elections.

In 2004, mass demonstrations took place in major cities of the country, caused by a sharp increase in the price of rice, the staple food. The opposition accused the government of creating the most difficult economic situation in the country over the past five years. In January 2005, an attempted coup d'état was thwarted, and more than 100 people were arrested on charges of participating in a conspiracy.

GDP is 18.99 billion US dollars, its growth is 2%. The inflation rate is 25%, investments - 17.3% of GDP (data for 2005, estimate). The main financial donors are France, the World Bank and the European Union. In the beginning. In the 2000s, Japan provided significant financial assistance for the development of the agricultural sector of the Guinean economy.

In July 2005, the government implemented a number of political reforms: freedom of association of opposition parties was guaranteed, voter lists were revised, and an independent electoral commission was established. In the municipal elections held in December 2005, the ruling PEP won a landslide victory (gained a majority of votes in 31 out of 38 cities in the country). The last changes in the government were implemented on April 4, 2006. In March 2006, the health of President Conte, suffering from leukemia and diabetes, deteriorated sharply. December 22, 2008 Conte passed away. He ruled the country for 24 years, and two days after his death, a group of army conspirators, who proclaimed themselves the new government, completely captured the capital of the country. Due to the political crisis in the country, protest demonstrations began. All existing laws were repealed, the leader of the military junta Musa Dadis Kamara promised to hold elections in 2010. His intention to run for them caused massive protests in the country. The military junta - the National Council for Democracy and Development (NCDD) - refuses to negotiate peacefully with the opposition, demonstrations and speeches are dispersed with the use of military force - in September 2009 alone, more than 150 people were killed, many were injured and arrested.

Guinea (Guinea) or full name Republic of Guinea (Republic of Guinea) - one of the poorest countries in the world, located in West Africa. States whose names contain the words "Guinea" , there are several in the world, however Republic of Guinea only one. Despite all its natural wealth, the state is among the ten poorest countries on our planet. Guinea- these are picturesque landscapes, exotic animals and plants, ancient fortresses of the first European settlers, mosques and palaces. Despite the fact that much attention is paid to international tourism, it is very poorly developed. Prior to the arrival of Europeans in West Africa, these lands were the property of the empires of Ghana and Mali. In 1892 the colony was founded french guinea part of French West Africa. The country gained independence only in 1958.

Guinea - land of picturesque landscapes

1. Capital

Capital of the Republic of Guinea – city of Conakry(Conakry) , a major port of the country, through which passes up to 65% of all cargo, located on the Atlantic coast. The capital was founded in 1885 on the site of two small fishing villages. The city was built as the center of the French colony in this part of West Africa. Today Conakry is a beautiful and successfully developing seaside city, stretching on a narrow strip of land, with a developed industry, higher educational institutions, administrative institutions, museums, parks and squares. The capital is divided into two halves - part is located on the Kalum Peninsula, the second half on the island of Tombo, between them lies a connecting dam.

2. Flag

Flag of the Republic of Guinea is a rectangular panel with an aspect ratio of 2:3, consisting of three vertical equal stripes: The stripes are arranged from left to right in the following order: red, yellow, green.

Symbolism

These are pan-African colors, symbolizing the unity of African states: red - "Work" , yellow - "Justice" , green - "Solidarity" .

3. Coat of arms

Coat of arms of Guinea is a composition with a golden shield in the center. The base of the shield is painted in the colors of the national flag: red, yellow and green. Above the shield is a flying dove with a branch, and below it is a ribbon with the national motto: Travail, Justice, Solidarité ("Labor, Justice, Solidarity" ).

Symbolism

red color - the blood of the African people shed in the struggle for the independence of the country
yellow is a symbol of the scorching African sun, as well as an abundance of mineral resources
green color - agriculture, nature of Guinea, as well as a symbol of prosperity and fertile lands of the country
dove - a symbol of peace and order

4. Anthem

listen to the national anthem of Guinea

5. Currency

National currency of guinea — Guinean franc (Guinean Franc)(international designation GNF ). Guinean franc introduced on March 1, 1960 to replace the CFA franc. In circulation there are coins in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 francs, as well as banknotes in denominations of 100, 500, 1000, 5000, 10,000 and 20,000 francs. Well Guinean franc to ruble or any other world currency can be found on the converter below:

banknotes of Guinea

Guinea- a state in West Africa, bordering in the north - with Senegal, in the northwest with Guinea-Bissau, in the north and northeast - with Mali, in the east - with Côte d'Ivoire, in the south - with Liberia and the Sierra Leone, and in the west it is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Square Republic of Guinea is 245,855 km² .

Geographically, the country can be divided into 4 regions:

Maritime (Lower) Guinea located in the west of the country and is a flat lowland up to 32 km wide, with heights of less than 150 m above sea level;
Middle Guinea - the sandstone massif of Futa-Dzhallon, crossing the country from north to south, with peaks of 1300 - 1400 m. It is distinguished by the predominance of savannah landscapes, mountain meadows are located in the highest places;
Upper Guinea - the savannah region, located east of the Futa-Jallon massif, on the plains in the basin of the upper reaches of the Niger River;
Forest Guinea - This is an area of \u200b\u200bsavannahs and tropical forests, located in the southeast of the country, occupying part of the North Guinea Upland.

river network Guinea thick and abundant. The largest rivers are the Niger, the third longest in Africa (4,180 km), the Gambia and Senegal. About 60% of the country's territory is covered with forests. highest point Guinea- Mount Nimba (1,752 m).

7. What is worth seeing in Guinea?

And here is a small list of attractions which you should pay attention to when planning excursions to Guinea

Great Mosque of Conakry
Botanical Garden of Conakry
Marie waterfall
Tinkiso Falls
Guinean Lesosavanna
Mount Gangan
Nimba Mountains
Leono-Liberian Upland
National Museum of Conakry
Mount Nimba Nature Reserve
north guinea upland

8. Major cities

List of the ten largest cities in Guinea:

Conakry (Conakry) — capital of the Republic of Guinea
Nzerekore
Kindia (Kindia)
bokeh
Kankan
Kisidugu (Kisidugu)
Gueckedou
Komsar
Macenta
Mom (Mama)

9. Climate

Climate of Guinea subequatorial , with wet summers and dry winters. In the north-east of the country, summer lasts 4-5 months, and in the south 7-9 months. The average monthly air temperature throughout the year is +20 °C to +28 °C, but during the drought period the temperature rises to 38 °C - 40 °C, this is affected by the wind "harmattan" blowing from the Sahara. Precipitation falls mainly in the period from May to October, but is distributed quite unevenly over the country: 4000 - 4300 mm per year, and in inland areas separated from the ocean by a mountain range - no more than 1500 mm.

10. Population

Population of Guinea is 13 663 578 people, of which 96% is the African population, numbering about 30 nationalities and ethnic groups. The largest representatives are fulbe (40%), raspberry (30%) and susu (20%), 10%. - other minor ethnic groups. 4% of the country's inhabitants are Europeans, Lebanese and Syrians. The average life expectancy of the female half of the population is 54-56 years, and the male half is 52-54 years.

Discover population of the Republic of Guinea can

11. Language

Guinea- a multilingual country in which there are about 40 languages, but the official language is French . French is the language of state and official institutions, which is actually spoken by only a quarter of the population of the country. Status "national" languages also have languages: Fula, Malinke, Susu, Kisi, Kpelle (Gerze) and Tom.

12. Religion

dominant religion in Guinea — Sunni Islam , it is professed by 84% of the total believing population. About 8% of the population are Christians (the majority are Catholics) and 8% of the country's inhabitants are adherents of traditional African beliefs (animalism, fetishism, the cult of ancestors and the forces of nature).

13. Holidays

National holidays in Guinea:

January 1 - New Year
April 3 - Second Republic Day (1984)
movable date in March - April - Easter and Easter holidays
May 1 - Labor Day
May 25 - Africa Day (Organization of African Unity)
August 15 - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
October 2 - Independence Day (a referendum was held on the independence of Guinea from colonial France)
December 25 – Christmas
movable date in December - Eid al-Fitr (the end of the month of Ramadan)
movable date in December - Birthday of the Prophet Muhammad
movable date in December - Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice)

14. Souvenirs

Here is a small list most common souvenirs which tourists usually bring from Guinea:

African drums
clay jugs
paintings with bright African flavor
beaded product
masks and figurines made of valuable tree species
clothes and shoes in national style
dishes
figurines of animals: elephants, hippos, giraffes, turtles and crocodiles

15. "No nail, no wand" or customs regulations

Customs regulations of Guinea do not restrict the import of foreign currency, but the declaration is required. And export without a declaration - in the amount of up to $ 800. US dollars.

Allowed:

Duty-free import of no more than 200 pieces is allowed. cigarettes, 1 liter of spirits, 2 liters of dry wine, as well as things and food for personal consumption - in an amount not exceeding $ 800

Forbidden:

It is forbidden to import drugs and psychotropic drugs and medicines, gold in bullion, in the form of plates or scrap, as well as precious stones (without the permission of the Ministry of Finance of Guinea). When exported, weapons, gold and precious stones, as well as products of local craftsmen made of wood, ivory, horn and leather are subject to mandatory customs control. A special permit is required for their export.

16. Voltage in the electrical network

Mains voltage: 220 volt, at a frequency of 50 hertz. Outlet type: type C, type F, type K.

Dear reader! If you have been to this country or you have something interesting to tell about Guinea . WRITE! After all, your lines can be useful and informative for visitors to our site. "On the planet step by step" and for all those who love to travel.

Geographical names of the world: Toponymic dictionary. - M: AST. Pospelov E.M. 2001 .

Guinea

(Guinee, Guinea), state in the West. Africa on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Pl. 245.9 thousand km²; 8 provinces, capital Conakry; other major cities: Cancan , Kindia, Labe, Nzerekore. From the 1st millennium AD - as part of the Ghana Empire, in the 7th-13th centuries. - Mali (legendary ruler Sundjata Keita). The penetration of Europeans began in the 2nd half of the 15th century. Since 1904, Guinea has been part of French Zap. Africa ; since 1958 - independent Republic of Guinea headed by the president, the legislature - Nat. meeting. The shores are indented, along the coast there is a narrow strip of lowlands, from which the Futa-Jallon plateau rises in ledges into the interior of the continent. On SE. - North-Guinean rise.(Mt. Nimba, 1752 m); on SW. – flat to bass. top. river currents Niger . Constantly humid and hot equatorial climate (even in the dry season, humidity in Conakry is 85%). There are many rivers, they are short, full-flowing and rapids; only the mouths of some are navigable. In the south and center. In the regions, there are highly sparse secondary forests; in the north, there is savannah; on the coast, there are patches of mangrove forests with palm trees (oilseed and raffia). Elephants, hippos, wild boars, leopards, cheetahs, many snakes, crocodiles live. Among insects - spreaders of diseases (fever, malaria, "sleeping sickness").
The population is more than 7.6 million people. (2001): Fulbe (35%), Malinka (30%), Susu (20%), etc., as well as Moors, French, Lebanese (mainly in the capital). Official the language is French, but the more common languages are Fulbe, Malinke and Susu; 8 languages have been declared national, and a script based on the Latin alphabet has been developed for them. 85% of the believing population are Muslims, 7% adhere to traditional animistic beliefs; 8% are Christians. The most populated coastal lowland, center. h. (Futa-Jallon) and bass. Upper Niger. Urban population 30% (1996). There are semi-nomads (especially among the Fulani). Sat. x-in backward, does not meet the needs of the population in food. Coffee, tropical fruits (pineapples, bananas, citrus fruits, mangoes, papaya, avocados, guava), palmista and cinchona are grown for export; for internal consumption produced rice, corn, millet, sorghum, cassava, peanuts; there are plantations of cotton, tobacco, and tea. Livestock is semi-nomadic, unproductive; fish-in. Extraction of bauxites, diamonds and iron. ores. Text, printing, woodworking, cement, met. prom. Crafts: wood carving (red and black) and bone, straw weaving (bags, fans, mats), weaving, blacksmithing and pottery; production of art products made of leather, wood, metal, bone and stone; weaving from raffia fiber, making muses. tools. Seaports: Conakry, Kamsar, Benti. In the capital of the international the airport. Folk art festivals. Cash unit - Guinean franc.

Dictionary of modern geographical names. - Yekaterinburg: U-Factoria. Under the general editorship of Acad. V. M. Kotlyakova. 2006 .

Encyclopedia Around the World. 2008 .

GUINEA

REPUBLIC OF GUINEA
State in West Africa. In the north it borders on Guinea-Bissau, Senegal and Mali, in the east and southeast - on Côte d'Ivoire, in the south - on Liberia and Sierra Leone. In the west it is washed by the Atlantic Ocean. The area of the country, including the islands of Conakry, 245857 km 2. Guinea has four main topographic regions: lower Guinea - a coastal plain stretching 275 km long and 50 km wide; middle Guinea (Futa Ja-lon) - a mountainous plateau up to 910 m high; upper Guinea - savannah with low hills up to 300 m in height, lower Guinea is a mountainous part of the country where the Nimba ridge is located (the highest point is 1752 m).The main rivers are the Bafing and the Gambia, in Guinea the Niger and Milo rivers also originate.
The population of the country (estimated for 1998) is about 7477100 people, the average population density is about 30 people per km2. Ethnic groups: Fulani - 35%, Malinke - 30%, Susu - 20%, other tribes - 15%. Language: French (state), Malinke, Susu, Fulani, Kisi, Basari, Loma, Koniagi, Kpele. Religion: Muslims - 85%, Christians - 8%, pagans - 7%. The capital is Conakry. Largest cities: Conakry (1508000 people). Kankan (278,000 people), Labe (273,000 people), Nzerekore (250,000 people). The state structure is a republic. The head of state is President Brigadier General Lansana Conte (in office since April 5, 1984). The head of government is Prime Minister S. Type. The monetary unit is the Guinean franc. Average life expectancy (for 1998): 44 years - men, 45 years - women. The birth rate (per 1,000 people) is 41.3. Mortality rate (per 1000 people) - 17.8.
The northern and eastern parts of the territory of modern Guinea were once part of the empires of Mali and Songhai. In the 18th century, a theocratic Islamic state was created. Guinea became a French colony in 1891 and part of French West Africa in 1906. On October 2, 1958, Guinea gained independence. In March 1984, the military came to power in a bloodless military coup. Guinea is a member of the UN and most of the specialized agencies of this organization. Organization of African Unity.
The climate of Guinea is different in different topographical zones. In the coastal strip, the average annual temperature is about 27 ° C, in Futa Jalon - about 20 ° C, in upper Guinea - 21 ° C. The rainy season lasts from April or May to October or November. The hottest month of the year is April, the rainiest is July or August. The vegetation of Guinea is very diverse: from dense mangrove forests along the ocean coast to the savannah in upper Guinea and the dense jungle of lower Guinea. The fauna is represented by leopards, hippos, wild boars, antelopes, civets. The country has a large number of snakes and crocodiles, as well as parrots and turaco (banano-eaters).
One of the most significant attractions of Conakry is the National Museum with a rich collection of exhibits.

Encyclopedia: cities and countries. 2008 .

Guinea is located in West Africa off the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, which washes a 300-kilometer heavily indented coastline. Area - 245.8 thousand sq. km. Guinea was a French colony until 1958. (cm. France), now - a presidential republic with a population of about 9.5 million people. The official language is French. 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 distributed very unevenly 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.
The territory of the country is located within the ancient African platform, broken by numerous faults, faults with outcrops of volcanic rocks. 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 (1.8 million inhabitants). Other large cities are industrial centers and transport hubs Kankan, Kandia, Labe.

Encyclopedia of Tourism Cyril and Methodius. 2008 .

Modern Encyclopedia