Côte d'Ivoire

I

Introduction

Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), republic in western Africa, bordered on the north by Mali and Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta), on the east by Ghana, on the south by the Gulf of Guinea, and on the west by Liberia and Guinea. A former French colony, Côte d’Ivoire became independent on August 7, 1960. The country was initially officially known as either Côte d’Ivoire or Ivory Coast; from January 1, 1986, Côte d’Ivoire became the sole official name. The country has an area of 322,462 sq km (124,503 sq mi). The capital of Côte d’Ivoire is Yamoussoukro.

II

Land and Resources

The eastern half of the coast of the Côte d’Ivoire is fringed by a number of large and deep lagoons, most of which are inaccessible to shipping because of offshore sandbars; the western half has cliffs, rocky promontories, and sandy bays. None of the river mouths on the coast is navigable, and proper access to the sea was only achieved in 1950 with the construction of a canal into the Ebrié at Abidjan. Bordering the coast, a zone of dense tropical forests extends about 265 km (165 mi) inland in the east and west and about 100 km (60 mi) in the centre. Beyond this, in the north and centre, lies an extensive savannah (grassland with a few trees). The western part of the country adjacent to the border with Guinea and Liberia is the only area of uplands, with mountain chains in the Odienné and Man regions. Several summits rise to more than 1,524 m (5,000 ft).

A

Rivers and Lakes

The principal rivers are the Sassandra, Bandama, and Comoé, none of which is navigable for more than about 65 km (40 mi) because of rapids and low water during the dry season.

B

Climate

The Côte d’Ivoire has a tropical climate, with generally abundant rainfall. Differences, particularly in the timing of the rainy seasons, are a result of distance from the sea. The average annual temperature is 26.1° C (79° F). Average annual rainfall varies from about 1,905 mm (75 in) in the coastal region to about 1,143 mm (45 in) in the savannah. The south has two rainy seasons, from March to July and from September to November. In the central areas the rainy seasons are March to May and July to November. In the north there is only one rainy season, from June to October.