The Geography of Liberia

     The country of Liberia is one with a fascinating story. The American Colonization Society began scouting out the area for a settlement here on what is called the "Pepper Coast" in 1822. It was meant to be a way of repatriating African Americans who had been taken during the Atlantic slave trade. Hence, its name, which means "Land of the Free," holds a deep and noble meaning. It later declared its independence as country in 1847 and was recognized as such by the United States following the Civil War. This made it Africa's first and oldest republic, and the only republic in Africa to have gained its independence through proclamation and not armed revolt.

     
     Liberia is bordered by the Ivory Coast to the east, Guinea to the north, Sierra Leone to the west, and the Atlantic Ocean to the south. Its capital, Monrovia, named after U.S. President James Monroe, is located in the northern half of the Atlantic coast. Its area of 43,000 square miles covers a coastal region characterized by swamps and mangroves in some areas, a hilly region of rainforest that rises to a plateau, and an area of deciduous forests in the mountainous northeastern part of the country. There is a range of the West African Mountains in Liberia as well as the Guinea Highlands. It shares its highest peak at 5748 feet, Mount Nimba, with neighboring Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast. There are also several major rivers in the country, including the St. Paul, the St. John, the Cestos and the longest, the Cavalla. 


     Located between 4 and 9 degrees north and 7 and 12 degrees west, Liberia has an equatorial climate, with heavy rainfall particularly from May until July and August until October. During the winter months (November - March), Liberia experiences troublesome winds called "harmattan" carrying dust sweeping in from the Sahara dessert.

Source: "Liberia", https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberia