The country lies in two climatic zones - subequatorial in the north and equatorial in the south. Average monthly temperatures everywhere are 25-30 ° C, but the amount of precipitation and its regime are different. In the equatorial climate zone, oceanic air dominates throughout the year and there is not a single month without precipitation, the amount of which per year reaches 2400 mm (mainly in March-June and December-January). In the north, in a subequatorial climate, precipitation is less (1100-1800 mm) and a dry winter is expressed.
Geography
The surface of the country is predominantly flat, in the south in the oceanic zone it is low-lying and turns into a low-mountain plateau with a height of 500-800 m in the north. In the west, in the Dan Mountains, is the highest point in the country (1340 m). Outcrops of ancient rocks of the African Platform are found almost throughout the entire territory: granites predominate in the west and north, and clay shales in the east. Deposits of gold, diamonds, manganese, and iron ores have been discovered here. The coast of the Gulf of Guinea is weakly indented and separated from the sea by a strip of sandy deposits. The main rivers - Comoe, Bandama, Sasandra, Cavalli - are not navigable.
Flora and fauna
In the vegetation cover in the south, humid equatorial forests are widespread, where more than 600 species of trees grow, including valuable species (about 35 species are used for timber harvesting, of which 5 are mahogany). To the north, humid forests give way to forest savannah, into which islets of gallery forests wedge in along river valleys. Further north, the islets of trees disappear and most of the territory is covered with tall grass savanna. Both the vegetation and the fauna of the Ivory Coast are better preserved than in other countries of West Africa: monkeys (monkeys, chimpanzees, guerrillas, etc.) are numerous in the forests, elephants, hippos, forest antelopes, brush-eared pigs, water deer are found; in the savannahs are found different kinds antelope, as well as leopard, cheetah, serval. A network of reserves and national parks has been created, including on the slopes of Mount Nimba (on the border with Guinea and Liberia), Banco National Park near Abidjan.
Population
The population of Côte d'Ivoire includes representatives of more than 55 linguistic communities, many of which are distinguished by a peculiar exotic culture. There are three subgroups of nationalities: Guinean (Kru, Baule, Anyi, etc.), Volt (Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Kulango, Mosi) and Mande (Malinke and others). The majority of the population is employed in agriculture (cocoa, coffee, etc.) and maintains both traditional lifestyles and traditional animistic beliefs.
Big cities
The largest city in the country is Abidjan (about 4.4 million inhabitants), whose rapid growth began after 1950. Now it is an industrial center, a large port, a university and a research center are located here. Abidjan is a modern city with numerous hotels, restaurants, and other elements of tourism infrastructure. The capital of Côte d'Ivoire is Yamoussoukro, home to 281,000 people. Other major cities in the country are Bwake, San Pedro, Korhogo, Ferkesedugu.
Story
The territory of modern Ivory Coast was inhabited by pygmies in the 1st millennium BC. Soon other peoples began to move there, the first of them were the Senufo.
For the first time, Europeans began to land on the banks of the modern Ivory Coast in the 15th century. It was then visited by the Portuguese, Dutch, Danes. The Portuguese visited here in the 1460s. Colonization began with the arrival of the French, who began the economic development of the land from the middle of the 19th century. Local tribes were destroyed until 1917. The French exported diamonds and gold, coffee and cocoa from here, and had banana plantations here. On March 10, 1893, the Ivory Coast was declared a colony of France, in 1895 it was included in French West Africa. The Ivory Coast has become a major producer of coffee and cocoa for the French markets. In 1934 Abidjan was declared the center of the colony. In 1945, the first political party emerged - the Democratic Party of the Ivory Coast, which at first leaned towards Marxism, but from the beginning of the 50s moved to positions close to the French right. In 1957, France granted the colonies local self-government.
On August 7, 1960, the country's independence was proclaimed. the leader of the Democratic Party of Houfue-Boigny became its president, the Democratic Party became the ruling and only party. The principle of inviolability of private property was proclaimed. The country continued to be an agrarian and raw material appendage of France, however, by African standards, its economy was in good shape, the rate of economic growth reached 11% per year. The Ivory Coast became the world leader in the production of cocoa beans in 1979, but success in this area was based on a favorable environment and a combination of great managers, foreign investment and a large number of cheap labor, mainly guest workers from neighboring countries. However, in the 1980s, prices for coffee and cocoa on world markets fell, in 1982-1983 the country suffered a severe drought and an economic recession; by the end of the 1980s, external debt per capita exceeded that of all African countries except Nigeria. Under pressure from the public, Houfouet-Boigny made political concessions, legalized alternative political parties to the ruling, initiated the electoral process, and in 1990 was elected president.
In 1993, he died, and the country was led by Henri Conan Bedier, who had long been considered his heir. In 1995, a forum on investment in the country's economy was held, in which Russian companies also took part. In the late 90s, political instability intensified, Bedier had a serious competitor: Allasan Ouattara, but he is of Burkinabian origin, while the country's constitution allowed only Ivorians to vote. This circumstance greatly deepened the already emerging split of society along ethnic lines. By that time, from a third to half of the country's population were persons of foreign origin, mainly previously employed in agriculture, which had fallen into decline due to the bad economic situation.
On December 25, 1999, a military coup took place in the country, the organizer of which, Robert Guey, held a presidential election the following year, marked by fraud and riots. Opposition leader Laurent Gbagbo was officially declared the winner of the elections. On September 19, 2002, a military uprising was organized in Abdijan, which was suppressed, but became the beginning of a civil war between political groups representing the north and south of the country. In 2003, an agreement was reached to end the clashes, but the situation remained unstable. A lasting peace agreement was signed only in the spring of 2007.
Politics
Cote d'Ivoire is a presidential republic. The President of the country is directly elected for a term of 5 years with the possibility of re-election only once. He has full executive power, appoints and removes the prime minister. The President has legislative initiative along with the parliament (unicameral).
Cote d'Ivoire, Republic of Cote d'Ivoire (République de Cote d'Ivoire).
Since the second half of the 20th century, the country's population has increased more than fivefold (3.9 million people in 1960; 20.8 million people in 2008); the average annual rate of natural population growth is declining (2.2% in 2008; 4.4% in 1973-82). The birth rate (32.7 per 1000 inhabitants; 2008) significantly exceeds the mortality rate (11.2 per 1000 inhabitants). The fertility rate is 4.2 children per woman; infant mortality 69.8 per 1000 live births. The age structure is dominated by the working-age population (15-64 years old) - 56.3%, the share of children under 14 years old is 40.9%, people 65 years and older - 2.8%. The average age of the population is 19 years (2008). Average life expectancy is 54.6 years (men - 53.9, women - 55.4 years). The ratio of men and women is approximately equal. The balance of external migration is positive, most of the labor migrants come from neighboring countries (mainly from Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea). The average population density is 64.5 people / km 2 (2008; one of the highest in Tropical Africa). The most densely populated is the south of the country (up to 384 people / km 2 in the Abidjan region, 106.2 people / km 2 in the Fromage region). In the northern, economically less developed regions, the average population density is much lower (14.6 people / km 2 in the Dengele region). The share of the urban population is rapidly increasing due to the constant influx of rural residents and immigrants (24% in 1965; 42% in 1985; over 50% in 2008). Large cities (thousand people, 2008): Abidjan (3900), Bouake (624.5), Daloa (234.7), Yamoussoukro (227), Korhogo (200.2), San Pedro (160.2). The economy employs 6.9 million people, of which about 68% in agriculture (2007). Unemployment rate 40% (estimate). 42% of the country's population lives below the poverty line (2006).
3. I. Tokareva.
Religion
About 40% of the population (2006, estimate) of Côte d'Ivoire is Sunni Muslim, about 28% are Christians (including about 19% are Catholics, about 6% are Protestants), about 30% are adherents of traditional cults. There are also adherents of Afro-Christian syncretic cults (Harism, etc.), Buddhists, Hindus, Baha'is, etc.
There are 4 metropolises and 11 dioceses of the Roman Catholic Church. The largest Protestant organization is the United Methodist Church of Cote d'Ivoire (founded in 1924, independent status since 1985). Orthodox parishes are under the jurisdiction of the Alexandrian Orthodox Church.
Historical sketch
Côte d'Ivoire before independence. Archaeological finds (the so-called Neolithic workshops along the river banks) testify to the settlement of the Ivory Coast in the Stone Age. In the 3rd-2nd millennia BC, in the savannah zone, and then in the forest zone, the development of agriculture began; in the 1st millennium AD, iron-making, pottery, weaving, and gold mining became widespread. At the beginning of the 2nd millennium, the Senufo peoples who came from the northwest settled here; the city of Kong, founded by them, became one of the largest centers of caravan trade in West Africa. In the 15-16th centuries, the Senufos were pushed to the northwest by the Mandean-speaking peoples (Malinke, Gyula, etc.), who at the beginning of the 18th century created a state formation centered in Kong. In the 15th century, in the interfluve of the rivers Kamoe and Black Volta, the state of the Abron - Bono people was formed; to the west of the Bandama River - the early state formation of Anya and Baule.
The northern part of the territory of Côte d'Ivoire was included in the sphere of influence of the states of Western Sudan - Ghana, Mali and Sotai.
At the end of the 15th century, Europeans, mainly the Portuguese, began to penetrate the coast of the Gulf of Guinea, exporting ivory from here (the name of the country - Côte d'Ivoire in French means Ivory Coast, BSC), gold and slaves. Colonization of Cote d'Ivoire began in 1637 by French missionaries. In the 1840s, the French established a foothold on the coast of Cote d'Ivoire, and in the 1880s they began to advance inland. In 1887-89 France imposed a number of so-called allied treaties on the rulers African states and tribal leaders. In 1892, according to the Franco-Liberian convention, the boundaries of the French possessions and Liberia were determined (subsequently, the decisions of the convention were repeatedly revised in favor of France), in 1893, according to the Franco-British convention, the borders with the British colony of the Gold Coast.
In 1893, the BSC was declared a colony of France (before that, the territories occupied by the French were administratively part of the colony of Senegal), and in 1895 it was incorporated into French West Africa. The main branch of the colonial economy of the BSC was the mining industry (mining of gold, diamonds, manganese ore), as well as the development of forest resources; the plantation economy was developed, export crops were cultivated - cocoa, coffee, bananas.
In the late 1930s, trade unions arose in the BSK and public organizations Africans demanding political rights. In October 1946, the BSC received the status of an overseas territory of France (within the framework of the French Community); part of the BSK population began to participate in the elections of representatives to the French parliament, as well as to the general council of the territory, endowed with advisory functions (in 1952 it was transformed into a territorial representative assembly, in 1958 - into a constituent assembly). In 1946, the first party of the African population, the Democratic Party (DP; territorial section of the African Democratic Union), was created, headed by D.F. Houfouet-Boigny. According to the 1956 law, in the development of which Houfouet-Boigny took part, universal suffrage was introduced, the division of voters into two curiae (African and European) was abolished, and the rights of the territorial legislative assembly were expanded. According to the results of the referendum held on September 28, 1958, the BSC received the status of a member state of the French Community. A government was formed, and Houfue-Boigny became its chairman.
Cote d'Ivoire since 1960. The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire was proclaimed on August 7, 1960. It seceded from the French Community, but retained close ties with the former metropolis (in 1961, the government of Côte d'Ivoire signed a number of agreements on economic and military cooperation with France). In November 1960, the country's constitution was adopted. Formally, she did not prohibit the activities of the opposition political parties However, in fact, the DP was recognized as the only party in Côte d'Ivoire, under whose control all trade union and public organizations were placed. In November 1960, the PD won the elections to the National Assembly, at the same time D. F. Houfouet-Boigny was elected president of the republic. Subsequent presidential and parliamentary elections were also held on an uncontested basis. The government pursued a liberal economic policy; a course was taken to attract foreign capital, the development of private entrepreneurship. In the 1960s and 1980s, the rates of economic growth were very high (due to the use of funds received from the export of coffee and cocoa beans), which largely contributed to the maintenance of internal political stability in the republic.
In the 1980s, as a result of falling world prices for coffee and cocoa beans, the country's economy entered a protracted crisis. Inflation, mass unemployment and a sharp drop in the standard of living of the population have led to an increase in anti-government sentiment. In May 1990, D. F. Houfouet-Boigny legalized the activities of opposition political parties and organizations. In the presidential elections on October 28, 1990, he defeated the opposition candidate L.K. Gbagbo.
On the eve of the 1995 presidential elections, the National Assembly of Côte d'Ivoire adopted an amendment to the constitution, according to which only those who had Ivorian parents (one or both) could run for the presidency. This amendment deprived the leader of the opposition Union of Republicans (founded in 1994 as a result of a split in the Democratic Party) A.D. On October 22, 1995, a representative of the Democratic Party, E. A. K. Bedier, was elected president (other candidates boycotted the elections).
The period of Bedier's presidency was marked by further destabilization of the internal political situation, caused, among other things, by the discriminatory policy of the government towards immigrants (about a quarter of the population of Côte d'Ivoire are immigrants from other countries, mainly from Burkina Faso, Benin, Ghana, Guinea). In 1999, on the eve of new presidential elections in the capital and other cities of the country, there were massive demonstrations in support of A.D. Ouattara. Taking advantage of the situation, the military, led by retired General R. Guei, staged a coup d'état. The suspension of the constitution, the removal of the president, and the dissolution of the government and parliament were announced. Power passed to the National Committee for Public Safety. In January 2000, a transitional government was formed, in which Guei took over as president of the republic and minister of defense.
On 23 July 2000, the new Constitution of Côte d'Ivoire was approved in a referendum (entered into force on 1.8.2000); the article on the requirements for a presidential candidate remained unchanged. The presidential elections on 10/22/2000 ended with the victory of the leader of the Ivorian Popular Front (INF; created in 1983 in France) L.K. Gbagbo. According to the results of the parliamentary elections (10.12.2000 - 14.1.2001), the INF and the DP received approximately the same number of seats. The elections did not lead to a normalization of the situation in the country. On September 19, 2002, the military seized power in the cities of Abidjan, Bouake and Korhogo. The mutiny was suppressed, but the rebel groups took control of all the northern, as well as part of the central and western regions... Clashes began on ethnic grounds (between Ivorians and immigrants, as well as between representatives of various peoples).
In March 2003, a coalition government of national reconciliation was formed, which included members of the INF, DP, rebel organizations and the Union of Republicans. However, a year later, ministers representing the opposition announced a boycott of the government's work in connection with the dispersal of demonstrations by the security forces of Côte d'Ivoire (over 100 people were killed). In early April 2004, UN military units were dispatched to assist the government in resolving the conflict in the country.
In the summer of 2004, in the city of Accra (Ghana), a summit of the heads of 13 African states was held, at which an agreement was reached between the government of Côte d'Ivoire and the rebels to resolve the internal conflict. However, the situation remained unstable as the opposing sides refused to disarm. Under these conditions, L.K. Gbagbo decided to postpone the presidential elections, which were originally planned to be held in 2005 (later they were postponed several times). In early March 2007, in the capital of Burkina Faso, the city of Ouagadougou, negotiations between Gbagbo and the leader of the Ivorian opposition forces GK Soro ended. The parties signed an agreement providing for the creation of a new transitional government of the country headed by Soro (formed on 7.4.2007). The government of Côte d'Ivoire is tasked with disarming rebel groups, rebuilding destroyed infrastructure, resolving ethnic conflicts, and ensuring the holding of presidential and parliamentary elections.
Diplomatic relations between the USSR and Côte d'Ivoire were established in 1967 (interrupted by the government of Côte d'Ivoire in 1969, restored in 1986). The trade turnover between the two countries is 153.2 million US dollars (2004). the Russian Federation has consistently advocated a political settlement of the conflict in Côte d'Ivoire.
Lit .: Blokhin L.F. Ivory Coast. M., 1967; Tokareva Z. M. Republic of Cote d'Ivoire. Directory. M., 1990; Encyclopedia of African peoples. N. Y. 2000; Coulibaly A. A. Le système politigue ivoirien: de la colonie a la Pe République. R., 2002; Countries and regions of the world. 3rd ed. M., 2009.
Farm
The economy of Côte d'Ivoire is based on agriculture. Since the early 2000s, the economic situation has worsened due to internal political instability. Since 2004, the World Bank stopped lending to Côte d'Ivoire. The country's development prospects are associated with diversifying the economy, increasing the role of the private sector, attracting foreign investment, and overcoming poverty.
The volume of GDP is 33.1 billion dollars (at purchasing power parity; 2007); per capita 1.7 thousand dollars. Human Development Index 0.432 (2005; 166th place among 177 countries of the world). Real GDP growth of 1.6% (2007; 11% in the 1960s, 6% in the 1970s - early 1980s, 5% in the late 1990s). In the structure of GDP, the service sector accounts for 50%, agriculture - 28%, industry - 22%.
Industry... An important role is played by hydrocarbon production in the eastern part of the Gulf of Guinea shelf. The total volume of oil production (started in 1980) is 52 thousand barrels / day (2007; 15 thousand barrels / day in 2002). The largest fields (2007): Espuar (28.1 thousand barrels / day), Baobab (21.1 thousand barrels / day), Lyon (1.9 thousand barrels / day). The production is carried out primarily under the control of the state-owned Société Nationale d'Operations Petroliéres de la Côte d'Ivoire (Petroci). About 60% of oil is exported, of which 2/3 - to the countries of Western Europe (mainly to Germany) and Canada.
Natural gas has been produced since the early 1990s (16 billion cubic meters in 2002; 22 billion cubic meters in 2006). Leading companies: Foxtrot International, Petroci, Energy de Сôte d'Ivoire, etc. All gas is used domestically (the main consumer is the power industry).
Electricity needs are fully covered by their own fuel resources. The installed capacity of power plants is 1.1 thousand MW (2005). Electricity production 5.3 billion kWh, exports 1.1 billion kWh (2006). Most of the generated energy is produced at thermal power plants (they run on natural gas). The largest TPP is Azito in the Abidjan region (1999; installed capacity 288 MW, over 1/3 of the generated electricity). About 1/5 of electricity is produced at hydroelectric power plants; the most important are Ayame I and Ayame II on the Biot River, Kossou and Taabo on the Bandama River, Viuo on the Sasandra River.
The country's only refinery of the Société Ivoirienne de Raffinage (SIR) company is located in Abidjan (capacity 65 thousand barrels / day; 47.3% of the shares are owned by the state). A second refinery is under construction (since 2008, commissioning in 2011) in the Abidjan region (capacity 60 thousand barrels / day). Export of petroleum products to Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger.
Gold is mined (1.3 tons in 2006, 3.6 tons in 2002; Iti and Subre deposits; largest companies- French "La Mancha Resources Inc." and the state-owned Société pour le Développement Minier en Cote d'Ivoire), diamonds (300 thousand carats in 2006; Tortia and Seguela districts in the north and west of the country).
There are small metallurgical and metalworking enterprises (production of steel sheets from imported billets, metal roofing materials, fittings, pipes, wires, etc. in Abidjan), factories for the assembly of cars, motorcycles, bicycles and household electrical products (Abidjan), numerous chemical enterprises (production paints and varnishes and plastics, perfumery and cosmetic products, household chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides, etc.), a cellulose plant (San Pedro; about 200 thousand tons of cellulose per year), two textile mills (Bouake and Dimbokro; mainly cotton fabrics from local cotton and a small amount - synthetic fabrics from imported raw materials). There are several small leather and shoe factories, a match factory (60-100 million boxes per year), shipbuilding and ship repair yards (in Abidjan). The logging and woodworking industries are developing rapidly (about 600 thousand m 3 of sawn timber per year); most of the enterprises are concentrated in the southern regions of the country. The production of building materials plays a significant role in the economy. Extraction of sand, gravel, limestone and other construction materials is carried out. There is a ceramic factory in Abidjan. Is of great importance food industry... The main products of numerous small businesses are palm oil, cocoa butter, instant coffee, canned pineapples and fruit juices, and canned fish. Large flour and bakery factories are located in Abidjan and San Pedro.
Agriculture... The leading industry is crop production. Along with modern agrotechnical methods (especially in plantation farms), a system of shift farming is practiced. 10% of the country's territory is processed (constantly about 4%), of which about 1/2 falls on the planting of cocoa. Cocoa d'Ivoire ranks 1st in the world for the production of cocoa beans (over 1 million tons in 2005; an average of about 46% of world production; 15% of the value of GDP). Also of export importance are coffee (collection of 130.8 thousand tons of green beans in 2005; 11th place in the world, mainly robusta variety, about 5% - Arabica), peanuts (72.5 thousand tons); cashew nuts (59 thousand tons; 7th place in the world), bananas (36.1 thousand tons), pineapples (34.8 thousand tons; 18th place in the world), sugar cane (22.8 thousand tons), coconuts, avocado, mango, cotton. Significant areas are occupied by oil palm plantations (cultivated for the production of palm oil), under the plantations of hevea. Cote d'Ivoire is Africa's largest producer of natural rubber (72.4 thousand tons in 2005; 8th place in the world). Major food crops (collection, thousand tons; 2005); yam 605, plantain 299, rice 245, cassava 108, corn 106. Livestock raising is developed mainly in the northern regions, in the central and southern regions it is focal. The livestock (thousand heads; 2005) is dominated by goats and sheep - 2,700; cattle 1500, pigs 333.
One of the promising industries is fishing. The annual catch is about 70 thousand tons (mainly tuna and sardines).
Transport... Cote d'Ivoire has an extensive road network, its density is especially high in the southern regions. The length of highways is 80 thousand km, including 6.5 thousand km with hard surface (2006). Road transport ensures the delivery of almost all export products to the points of export on the coast and the transportation of imported goods to various regions of the country. Cote d'Ivoire is connected with Ghana, Togo, Benin, Cameroon and Nigeria by roads along the coast of the Gulf of Guinea. The length of the only railway (Abidjan - border with Burkina Faso) is 660 km; the volume of passenger and cargo transportation is decreasing due to the increasing competition with road transportation. The seaports are Abidjan (cargo turnover of about 19 million tons per year, the largest in West Africa; provides over 90% of foreign trade traffic) and San Pedro (mainly export of timber and lumber). 7 airports have paved runways (2007). International airports are in Abidjan, Yamoussoukro and Bouaké.
International trade... The value of merchandise exports is $ 18.5 billion, imports - $ 6.1 billion (2007). In the commodity structure of exports, agricultural products dominate: cocoa beans (about 30% of the value) and cocoa products, coffee, cotton, rubber, palm oil, fruits; about 25% of the export value is provided by oil and oil products. Other goods include timber and lumber, canned fish. Major buyers (2006): Germany (9.7% of value), Nigeria (9.1%), Netherlands (8.4%), France (7.3%), USA (7%), Burkina Faso (4 ,4%). Côte d'Ivoire imports oil and oil products (over 33% of the cost), machinery and equipment, vehicles, food. The main suppliers of goods are Nigeria (30.5% of the cost), France (16.4%), China (6.7%).
Lit .: Pasco Bakayolo M. Сôte d'Ivoire: démocratie en peine, rien ne va plus en Afrique. R., 2005; Koffi Koffi P. La défi du développement en Сôte d'Ivoire. R., 2008.
3. I. Tokareva.
Armedstrength
The Armed Forces (BC) of Côte d'Ivoire consists of the Ground Forces (Land Forces), the Air Force, the Navy, the Presidential Guard and the Gendarmerie (over 17.1 thousand people; 2007), and there are also paramilitaries - the police (1.5 thousand people ; 2007). Annual military budget $ 300 million (2007).
The supreme commander in chief is the president, who directs the BC through the Department of Defense and the BC headquarters. The ground forces (6.5 thousand people) include 4 military areas, 1 tank and 3 infantry battalions, a separate artillery battalion, an airborne group, an engineering company and an anti-aircraft artillery battery. In service with 15 tanks (including 5 light), 31 armored personnel carriers, 25 armored personnel carriers, 4105-mm howitzers, 16 120-mm mortars, anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons. The Air Force (700 people) includes a fighter, transport, communications and helicopter squadron (several aircraft and helicopters, including 4 combat aircraft). The Navy (950 people) includes several landing and patrol boats. The number of the presidential guard is 1.4 thousand people, the gendarmerie is 7.6 thousand people. Weapons and military equipment are mainly of French production.
BC recruitment on the basis of universal compulsory military service for males at the age of 18, as well as selectively under contract. The training of officers and non-commissioned officers is carried out mainly in France. Some junior officers are trained at the national military school and at the flight school in Bouaké. Mobilization resources 4 million people, including 2.1 million fit for military service. In 1961, France and Côte d'Ivoire signed an agreement on joint defense (French troops are deployed - about 3.8 thousand people).
V.D. Nesterkin.
Health care
In Côte d'Ivoire, there are 12 doctors per 100 thousand inhabitants, 60 persons of average medical staff, 2 dentists, 6 pharmacists (2004). Total expenditures on health care account for 3.9% of GDP (2005) (budget financing - 27.6%, private sector - 72.4%) (2003). The legal regulation of the health care system is carried out by the Law on the Protection of Public Health and the Environment from the Action of Industrial and Radioactive Wastes (1988). The health care system includes urban private medical and dental institutions. In rural areas, medical care is limited in volume and quality due to the lack of personnel. The most common infections are bacterial dysentery, hepatitis A, malaria, yellow fever, schistosomiasis (2008). The main causes of death of the adult population: AIDS, malaria, lower respiratory tract diseases, tuberculosis, cardiovascular diseases, injuries, cancer (2004). Seaside climatic resort Gran-Basam.
V.S. Nechaev.
Sport
The National Olympic Committee was founded in 1962, recognized by the IOC in 1963. Athletes from Côte d'Ivoire take part in Olympic Games from 1964 (except 1980); the only award was won by the athlete G. Tyakokh, who took 2nd place in the 400 m race (Los Angeles, 1984). The Ministry of Youth and Sports was established in 1960. In the 1960s, the first sports federations were created in the country and a number of national championships were held.
The most popular sports are judo, boxing, football, handball, athletics, kayaking and canoeing. The national football team of Côte d'Ivoire plays successfully in international competitions - winner (1992) and finalist (2006) of the African Cup, participant in the final part of the World Cup in Germany (2006). The strongest footballers of the country play in the leading European clubs: D. Drogba - in the London Chelsea champion of England (2005, 2006); A.K. Keita - Champion of France with Lyon (2008); K. H. Touré - at Arsenal (London, since 2002); his brother J. Touré - in Barcelona (since 2007); B. Sanogo - in Werder Bremen (Bremen, since 2007) and others. Goalkeeper A. Guamene participated in 7 African Cup competitions.
V. I. Linder.
Education. Institutions of science and culture
Control educational institutions carried out by the Ministry of National Education and Scientific Research. The network of preschool institutions is poorly developed, they mainly function in large cities. The education system includes (2008) compulsory free 6-year primary education for children from 6 years of age, 7-year secondary (4-year incomplete and 3-year full) education in state and non-state educational institutions (colleges and lyceums), vocational -technical education (on the basis of primary and incomplete secondary schools) in apprenticeship centers and technical lyceums, higher professional education. Preschool education covers 3% of children, initial training- 71%, average - 32%. The literacy rate of the population over the age of 15 is 62.1% (2006). The system of higher professional education includes: University of Cocody; University of d'Abobo-Ajame (both in Abidjan); University of Bouaké - all universities spun off in 1995 from the National University (founded 1958 as the Center for Higher Education in Abidjan), the National Polytechnic Institute (1996) in Yamoussoukro, the National School of Management (1960), the National Graduate School of Fine Arts (1963) - both in Abidjan; National School of Engineering (1963), Graduate School of Agronomy (1996) - both in Yamoussoukro. The main museums, libraries, scientific institutions are located in Abidjan, Bouaké, Korhogo.
Mass media
Leading periodicals: daily government newspapers Fraternité Matin (published since 1964, circulation 25 thousand copies), Ivoir 'Soir (since 1987, 10 thousand copies); the monthly government gazette "Journal Officiel de la République de Cote d'Ivoire" (since 1958, 25 thousand copies); independent daily newspapers Le Jour (since 1994), Le Patriote (since 1991), La Nouvelle République, Notre Voie; the monthly magazine "Eburnea" (since 1967) (all in the city of Abidjan, on French), etc. Radio broadcasting since 1949 (since 1951 regularly), television since 1963. Television and radio broadcasts (in French and local languages) are broadcast by the state service "Radiodiffusion-Тélévision Ivoirienne" and others. National news agency - Agence Ivoirienne de Presse (AIP; created 1961).
Literature
The literature of Côte d'Ivoire is developed in French. In the 1930s, national drama was born. In 1938, the "Native Theater" was created, where plays were staged everyday, historical, and also raising the topic of colonial exploitation (works of BB Dadier, F. Zh. Amon d'Abi, and others). In 1952, the People's Academy of Literature and Poetry was established, and in 1962, the national Association of French Writers. The flowering of drama began after gaining independence. In the 1960s and 70s, a heroic-historical drama appeared. The influence of French classicism marked E. Dervin's dilogy: the drama Saran, or the Criminal Queen, in which the image of a wise African ruler, politician and commander was created, and Language and Scorpio (both 1968). Sh. Nokan in the play "Woe Chaco" (1968) posed the problem of the ruler and the people; The socio-utopian play "Abraa Poku, or the Great African Woman" (1970) was based on the legend about the origin of the Baul people. The struggle of the African peoples against the colonialists was reflected in the plots of the epic dramas Beatrice of the Congo (1970) and The Isle of the Storm (1973) by Dadier, whose work is also associated with the emergence of satirical comedy (Mr. Togo-Nyini, 1970; Mua-Sel ", 1979). The heroization of the historical past is at the heart of the play "Sofa" by B. Zadi Zauru (1975).
Poetry and prose began to flourish in the 1950s. A vivid example of revolutionary anti-colonial poetry: the collections "Africa at full height" (1950), "People of all continents" (1967) by BB Dadier; The Harsh Appeal of Hope by J. M. Bonnini (1961). In the 1970s, the tendencies of romanticizing the past of Africa were evident in poetry (the works of B. Zadi Zauru, A. Kanie). The formation of prose is also associated with the name of Dadier: the collection "African Legends" (1954), the book of fairy tales based on folklore "Black Bandage" (1955); the autobiographical novel "Clembier" (1956) and others. The theme of the collapse of the illusions of a "man of two cultures" is revealed in the novel "Kokumbo - a black student" by A. Loba (1960). The novels "The Black Dawn Is Occupied" (1962) and "The Wind Was Strong" (1966) by Sh. Nokan are distinguished by their acuteness of anti-colonial pathos, romantic pathos, stylistic syncretism (a combination of lyricism and publicism). In the 1970s, narrative novels began to spread, in which traditional African values came to the fore. In the mainstream of negritude - the novels "The Boy from Bouake" by M. Konet (1963), "Ouzzy" by J. Dodo, "Masseni" by T. Dema, "The Subdued Pyro" by P. du Prey (all - 1977). "Black" description of everyday life, the depiction of the gloomy phenomena of the traditional African society (magic, witchcraft, secret societies) is characteristic of the novel "At the Threshold of the Unreal" by A. Kone (1976). In the intellectual novel-parable "Identity Card" by J. M. Adiaffi (1980), a call is expressed in a symbolic form to restore the ties that had been cut off by the colonialists with the spiritual and cultural heritage of their ancestors. An example of a highly artistic synthesis of the individual author's ironic style, elements of the oral tradition of the Malinke people and modern novel technique was the work of A. Kuruma ("Monne, or the Humiliated Challenge", 1990; "Waiting for the vote of wild animals", 1998, etc.).
Lit .: Lyakhovskaya Ya.D. Poetry of West Africa. M., 1975; she is. Features of the formation and development of drama in the French-speaking literatures of Tropical Africa // Development of genres in modern literatures in Africa. M., 1983; she is. Literature of Cote d'Ivoire // French-language literatures of Tropical Africa. M., 1989; Lezou G. D. Creations romanesques devant les transformations actuelles en Сôte d'Ivoire. Dakar, 1978; Makouta-Mboukou J. P. Introduction à l'etude du roman négro-africain de langue française. 2ed. Dakar, 1983; Writers of Côte d'Ivoire: Bibliographic Index. M., 1988.
Ya.D. Lyakhovskaya.
Architecture and fine arts
The peoples of the southern, forested part of the country build rectangular dwellings with a roof of palm branches. Among the Baule and Anyi peoples, the houses are oval in plan and are surrounded by a canopy. In the northwest, round houses with conical thatched roofs are common. This type of dwelling in the east of the country is being replaced by adobe rectangular houses with a flat roof. In the central part of Côte d'Ivoire, houses have a rectangular plan with rounded ends and are divided into 3-4 rooms. The walls of houses are often painted with geometric patterns, figures of people and animals.
After the proclamation of independence, 1-4-storey residential buildings began to be built; multi-storey buildings are under construction, uniting the shopping center, hotel, restaurants and buildings of apartments or offices located in the lower part: the Nur al-Hayat center (architects A. Lazhe, J. P. Lupi, J. Mae), the office complex La Pyramid »With aluminum trim (architect R. Olivieri, engineer R. Morandi; both in Abidjan, 1960-70s), airport near Abidjan (1969, architects M. Ducharm, J. Moreau, J. P. Minot) , Hotel "Cascades" in Mans (1969, Ducharm, C. Larra, Mino); SCIAM administrative building in Abidjan (1975, J. Semichon) in an international style. Some hotels (in Sassandra, architect Benoit-Barnet; in Asini, architects J. Semichon, L. Renard, A. C. Vee) are stylized as huts with thatched roofs. Cultural centers have been created in Abidjan and Bouaké, covered markets. In construction, reinforced concrete and glass are used, for finishing works local artisans are involved. In the 1970s, OK Kakub developed the general plan of the city of Yamoussoukro and built a complex of public buildings in the forms of brutalism: the Congress Palace, the President's Palace, the President Hotel, the buildings of the City Hall and the Houfue-Boigny Foundation. In the 1980s, Catholic churches were erected: the Cathedral of St. Paul in Abidjan (1985, architect A. Spirito) with elements of postmodernism, the grandiose Cathedral of Notre Dame de la Pe in Yamoussoukro (1986-89, architect P. Fakhuri; building repeats the composition of the Cathedral of St. Peter in the Vatican); both buildings are decorated with stained glass windows.
Painting like independent view art emerged in Côte d'Ivoire only in the 1960s. Among the artists of this period were M. Codio and E. J. Santoni; both were educated in France. At the turn of the 1980-1990s, J. Bat gained fame, in whose works the techniques of abstraction are combined with the local ornamental tradition. A special place in artistic life is occupied by representatives of naive art (Z. Macré, F. Bruly-Bouabré), who continue the craft tradition of making signs. The most famous sculptor is K. Lattier, who worked in France and at home; creates works of metal, basket weaving elements, ropes and fabrics. S. Dogo Yao is engaged in ceramic sculpture in the spirit of baule traditions for the design of architectural structures; K. Murufier also works in this genre. Woodcarving (masks, figurines of people), processing of gold, bronze and copper, weaving are developed. Pottery production is concentrated in the Katiola region, the Seguela region is famous for its elegant canari vessels, in the Korhogo region, spherical pots and huge grain tanks are made. The traditional painting of houses is developing.
Lit .: Castel J. Inventaire des formes de representation graphique en Сôte d'Ivoire et propositions d'exploitation. Abidjan,; Architecture coloniale en Cote d'Ivoire. Abidjan, 1985; L'Art des enseignes. Abidjan, 1985; Lerat J.-M. Chez bonne idé: Images du petit commerce en Afrique de l'Ouest. R., 1986; Blanditi A. Bronzes et autres alliages: Afrique de l᾿Ouest. Marignane, 1988; Magiciens de la terre. ... R., 1989; Contemporary African artists: Changing tradition. ... N. Y. 1990; Boyer A.-M. Arts premiers de Cote d'Ivoire. Saint-Maur, 1997; Bonneau R. Ecrivains, cinéastes et artistes ivoiriens: Aperçu bio-bibliographique. Abidjan, 1973.
V. L. Voronina, E. N. Silversvan.
Music
The musical culture is typical of West Africa; represented by professional traditions dan, malinke (mandingo group), baule, ve (kru group), senufo. U Dan music is singled out as an independent branch of traditional culture, its connection with cult practice has been largely preserved (the origin of music is associated with the world of spirits; for magical purposes, begbo masks that distort the voice are used). Professional musicians are united in associations, specialization is inherited; the skill of singers-improvisers is still highly valued (solo singing is accompanied by playing the harp, lamellaphone). Music is an integral part of initiation ceremonies, rituals preceding the hunt, etc. The drumming accompanies the labor actions of farmers, wrestling competitions and dances. Malinke's caste of professional singers and musicians - jeli (griots; accompany themselves on bark, xylophone, harp, etc.); Among the socially significant functions of the jeli are parting words to the soldiers and their glorification. Professional music also has a high status in the public life of the baule: songs in honor of deities and ancestral spirits are widespread; v jurisprudence drums are used, which are considered intermediaries between people and the spirits of ancestors; at public meetings, accompanied by drums and signal idiophones, they sing poetic texts and proverbs. Baule is characterized by two voices (singing and playing instruments in parallel thirds).
In the signaling function of u ve, the so-called talking drums are used; they also play songs of praise to the leaders and soldiers. Senufo has no caste of musicians, but music has great importance in the rituals of male and female secret societies; especially interesting songs of initiation rites, which are accompanied by large instrumental ensembles. Leisure forms of playing music are widespread in cities. Music education and the study of traditional music are concentrated in Abidjan.
A. S. Alpatova.
Theater, dance
The national theatrical tradition has its origins in the art of the Griots. In 1938, graduates of the W. Ponty School (Dakar) organized the "Indigenous Theater" in Abidjan, which paid special attention to plays directed against the charlatanism of sorcerers ("Bussatier, or The Secret of the Black Sorcerer" by F.J. Amon d'Abi, 1939, and others. ). In the early 1940s, satirical performances by G. Coffey (one of the founders of the African theater) appeared based on his own plays - Our Wives (1940) and My Husband (1941); in 1943 he staged his anti-colonial play The Song Returns. In 1953, the "Aboriginal Theater" was transformed into the "Cultural and Folklore Circle", which took a prominent place in the cultural life of all of West Africa. The repertoire included plays of everyday life and history (including "Crown at Auction" by Amon d'Abi, "Ihaonda" by Coffey, "The Adventures of a Goat" by D. Makhaman). In 1958, the Ivory Coast Theater Society was founded under the leadership of K. Nguan. At this time, plays by local playwrights were widely staged ("The Rural Witch" by M. Berthe, "Termites" by E. Derven, and others). The Masks and Balafons troupe of the University of Abidjan enjoyed success. In 1959, the School of Dramatic Art was opened in Abidjan, which was later transformed into a theater school at the National Institute of Arts (created in 1967). Among the significant performances of this period: "Three applicants, one husband" G. Oyono Mbia (1968), "Mr. Togo-Nyini" by BB Dadier (1970), "Tussio" by G. Deman-Go (1971). In 1971 the comedy "The Inspector General" by N. V. Gogol was staged on the Abidjan stage. In the 1980s and early 2000s, productions by the playwright and director M. Ekissi were popular (The Time of the Red Berets, 1988; The Tragedy of King Christophe, 1993; Cruel Holiday, 1999; My Name is Brahima, 2001). One of the greatest theatrical figures of Cote d'Ivoire at the beginning of the 21st century is the actor and director S. Bakaba. Since 1993, the International Arts Festival has been held in Ivory Coast every 2 years.
Dance performances based on folklore are especially popular in Côte d'Ivoire. In 1974, the Ivory Coast National Ballet was founded in Abidjan. The most famous dance groups: "Mantche" (1998), "Jigiya" (1999), "Duncan" (2006), "1 Somniak" (2008). Among the performers (early 2000s) - A.B.Bamba, A. Drame, K. Mamadi.
Lit .: Lvov N.I. Modern Theater of Tropical Africa. M., 1977; Lvova E. S. Ethnography of Africa. M., 1984; The world encyclopedia of contemporary theater / Ed. D. Rubin. N. Y., 2000. Vol. 3: Africa; A history of theater in Africa / Ed. M. Banham. Camb., 2004.
G.M.Sidorova.
Cinema
The emergence of national cinema is associated with the name of T. Basori, who in the 1960s shot the short films On the Dunes of Loneliness, The Sixth Furrow, Fire in a Bar, and others. In 1969 he also released the first national full-length film A Woman with a Knife ”, Which touched upon the issues of correlation between African and Western civilizations. In the 1970s, the problems of national reality were reflected in the films "Amanye" and "Hat" by R. M'Bala and "Cry of the Muezzin" by E. N'Dabian Vodio. In the 1980s, the country released the films “A Man from Afar” by M. Traote, “Jelly” by K. Lansike Fedike, “AnjaTio” by J. L. Kula, “Dalokan” by M. Dos, “Healers” by S. Bakaba. In 1983 the film "Petanqui" by I. Kozoloa was released (jointly with Nigeria). The Exotic Comedy by K. Touré (1985), about the life of the traditional Senufo society, aroused significant audience interest. The most famous filmmakers are directors D. Ecaré (Concert for an Exile, 1968; France for the Two of Us, 1970; Faces of Women, 1985) and A. Duparc (Muna, or an Artist's Dream, 1969; Family ", 1972;" Wild grass ", 1977;" I chose life ", 1987;" Ball in a cloud of dust ", 1988;" Sixth finger ", 1990;" Coffee color ", 1998), raising in their works actual moral and public themes and tragicomedy genre. In 1974 the Association of Professional Filmmakers of Côte d'Ivoire was formed (part of the Pan African Federation of Filmmakers). Since 1969 films from Côte d'Ivoire have participated in the All-African Film Festival (FESPACO) in Ouagadougou.
Lit .: Cinematography of foreign countries. M., 1996; Shakhov A.S. Duparc A .; Ekare D. // Cinema of Asia, Africa, Australia, Latin America: Director's Encyclopedia. M., 2001.
A.S.Shakhov.
The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire (until 1986 the name was officially translated into Russian as the Republic of the Ivory Coast) is a state in West Africa. It borders on Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana, from the south it is washed by the waters of the Gulf of Guinea. Former colony of France.
Most of the territory is occupied by hilly plains, turning in the north into a plateau with a height of more than 400 m above sea level. In the northwest there are large Dan and Tura mountain ranges with deep gorges. The highest point is Mount Nimba (1752 m).
State
State structure
Cote d'Ivoire is a presidential republic. The President of the country is directly elected for a term of 5 years with the possibility of re-election only once. He has full executive power, appoints and removes the prime minister. The president has legislative initiative along with a unicameral parliament.
Language
State language: French
African languages are also widely used - Yakuba, Senufo, Baule, Anyi and Diola.
Religion
Muslims in the country are about 40%, Christians - 33%, aboriginal cults are common among 11% of the population, atheists - 16%.
Currency
International name: KFA
Currency exchange can be made at banks and exchange offices, the exchange rate can vary significantly, so you should carefully check the conditions. Some exchange offices work not only seven days a week, but also around the clock.
The use of credit cards is possible only in capitals and in large tourist centers on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea, preference is given to Visa and MasterCard. The best exchange rates are for checks and credit cards from French banks.
Popular attractions
Ivory Coast Tourism
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Total
% water surface
322,460 km²
1,4
Total ()
Density
16 962 491 people
53 people / km²
Republic of Côte d'Ivoire(before the name was officially translated into Russian as Ivory Coast) - a state in West Africa. It borders on Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana, from the south it is washed by the waters of the Gulf of Guinea. Former colony of France.
There are over 60 ethnic groups in the country. The capital is Yamoussoukro (150 thousand inhabitants), the main city of the country is Abidjan (the economic capital with a population of about 3 million people). The official language is French, the main local languages are Gyula, Baule, Bethe. National holiday - Independence Day (August 7).
Natural conditions
A predominantly flat country, covered with tropical rainforests in the south and tall grass savanna in the north.
The climate is equatorial in the south and subequatorial in the north. The average annual temperature is from + 26 ° to + 28 °. Annual precipitation ranges from 1100 mm in the north to 5000 mm in the south.
Natural resources - oil, gas, diamonds, manganese, iron ore, cobalt, bauxite, copper, gold, nickel, tantalum.
Inland rivers
The main rivers are Sasandra, Bandama and Comoe, but none of them is navigable more than 65 km from the estuary due to numerous rapids and a sharp drop in water level during the dry season.
Vegetation
The coastal area is covered with dense tropical forests. In the north and center of the country lies a vast savannah.
Animal world
The Ivory Coast is home to a jackal, hyena, panther, elephant, chimpanzee, crocodile, several species of lizards and poisonous snakes.
Story
Pre-colonial period
The territory of modern Côte d'Ivoire as early as the 1st millennium BC was inhabited by pygmies who lived in the conditions of the Stone Age, hunting and gathering. Then other African peoples began to move there, the first of them were the Senufo, who came in the 11th century from the northwest.
In the 15th-16th centuries, the Mande tribes (Malinke, Diula, etc.) came from the north, pushing the Senufo back. At the beginning of the 18th century, the Mande created the state of Kong, which became an important trading center and a hotbed for the spread of Islam in West Africa.
Colonial period
For the first time, Europeans began to land on the banks of the modern Ivory Coast in the 15th century. It was then visited by the Portuguese, Dutch, Danes. The Portuguese visited here in the 1460s. Europeans bought ivory, gold, and slaves from the aborigines.
The first settlers from Europe were French missionaries who landed there in 1637. This first settlement was soon destroyed by the aborigines. Half a century later, in 1687, a new French mission was created, this time with armed guards. At the beginning of the 18th century, the French tried to establish two more settlements on the coast, but they lasted only a few years.
The French re-started the development of the Ivory Coast in 1842. They restored the Grand Bassam Fort (on the coast, not far from present-day Abidjan), and by 1846 they had established their protectorate over almost all the coastal tribes.
Inland, the French began to move in 1887. Within two years, the French made treaties with most of the tribes from the coast to the country's present-day northern border. In 1892, the borders with Liberia were established, in 1893 - with the British colony Gold Coast (modern Ghana).
In 1893 the Ivory Coast was separated into a separate French colony (from the colony of Senegal), and in 1895 the BSK was incorporated into French West Africa.
During the colonial period, the French began to develop the production of export crops there (coffee, cocoa, bananas, etc.), as well as to mine diamonds, gold, manganese ore, and develop forest resources. The French took up the development of infrastructure, in particular the construction of railways and highways, seaports.
In October 1946, the Ivory Coast was granted the status of an overseas territory of France, and a general council of the territory was created.
Post-independence period
Political system
On average, the country's economy has been recent years demonstrates sustainable economic growth of 2.5 - 3% per year (after deducting inflation), and per capita income in Côte d'Ivoire in 2007 was equal to 840 dollars, which is very high by the standards of Black Africa.
Agriculture employs about 70% of the country's active population; the products of this sector of the economy provide more than 60% of export earnings to the budget. Cote d'Ivoire is Africa's largest exporter of palm oil and natural rubber. In addition to coffee and cocoa, the main export crops are bananas, cotton, sugar cane, and tobacco. The cultivation of coconut palms and peanuts is also developed.
In the forests, valuable species of wood are harvested (including black (ebony) wood), hevea sap is collected (for the production of rubber). Sheep and goats are raised for agricultural purposes; commercial fishing is underway.
Oil and gas are produced mainly on the continental shelf. Deposits of nickel, manganese and iron ores, as well as bauxite, diamonds and gold are also being developed.
Main trading partners: EU countries (primarily France). The second place after the EU in the foreign economic relations of Cote d'Ivoire is taken by the ECOWAS countries, as well as South Africa, Morocco and Tunisia. The USA, China, India, Canada and Japan are active in the development of trade and economic ties with Cote d'Ivoire.
Notes (edit)
Links
- Official website of the President of Côte d'Ivoire (fr.)
- Materials on the recent history of the country, incl. about the civil war of 2002-2007
- Films about the conflict in Côte d'Ivoire from the documentary series "In the Line of Fire"
Yamoussoukro 18:51 35 ° C
Mainly cloudy
Hotels
The megalopolis Abidjan is famous for a large selection of international hotel chains with a good location and European service. Along the coast of the Gulf of Guinea, there are many local hotels with unassuming service and modest amenities. If you want to live on the coast, we advise you to rent a cottage and bungalow with your own kitchen so that you can cook on your own.
Local hotels do not have a generally accepted classification of comfort and service, as a rule, they directly depend on the cost of living.
sights
Cote d'Ivoire is a unique country for those who are interested in African culture, folklore and the way of life of its peoples. In addition, it has the largest and most beautifully organized national parks in all of West Africa.
The rainforests of Côte d'Ivoire are rapidly being cleared, and the only remaining virgin forest can be seen in National park Kamoe, the largest and most famous park in the country. Here you will see tropical trees 50 meters high, endless vines and rare species of animals: chimpanzees, hyena dogs, countless birds. You cannot visit the park just like that. It is necessary to obtain permission from the Ministry of Forest, which is located in Abidjan.
Museums
The Museum of Civilization in Abidjan is the country's main museum. Its collection is interesting, the museum itself is small, but the exposition is arranged somewhat chaotically and inconveniently for viewing, all the charm of the collection vanishes. The basis of the exhibition is folk art of the Baule and Yakuba tribes, ivory crafts, ritual masks, household items and much more.
Climate Cote d'Ivoire: Tropical along the coast, semi-arid in the far north. Three seasons - warm and dry (November to March), hot and dry (March to May), hot and humid (June to October).
Resorts
Good beaches are located along the town of Sasandra. Sasandra was once the main port of the country, but a modern sea terminal was built in the neighboring city of San Pedro and its role declined. After that, it became a calm, tourist destination, where numerous surf schools are located.
Leisure
Côte d'Ivoire will appeal to connoisseurs of African culture. Every year it hosts lavish celebrations and vibrant festivals dedicated to local deities and Independence Day. The most significant event is the Festival of Masks in February.
Beach holidays in Cote d'Ivoire are standard, but many travelers come here not to do nothing blissfully, but to surf.
Relief Cote d'Ivoire :: Mainly flat, mountains in the northwest.
Transport
There are no direct flights from Cote d'Ivoire to Russia. Transfers are possible in European capitals or in Morocco. From neighboring countries, you can get here by bus or train (there is a railway connection with Burkina Faso).
Surprisingly, the country has good roads. There is a separate lane for public transport (which is not the case in many Russian cities, alas). The city of Abidjan is famous for its modern interchanges; it is a great pleasure to travel by car along it.
Standard of living
Cote d'Ivoire is one of the most developed countries on the west coast. Agriculture is well developed here (the main suppliers of cocoa and coffee throughout the world). Most recently, an oil and natural gas field was found in the country. More than 80% of the country's population is engaged in agriculture. The working conditions on the plantations are very poor: a workday of 16 hours, lack of social guarantees and low wages. But the workers have to put up with this, there is unemployment in the country.
Cote d'Ivoire has resources like:: Oil, natural gas, diamonds, manganese, iron ore, cobalt, bauxite, copper, gold, nickel, tantalum, quartz sand, clay, coffee, palm oil, hydropower.
Cities Ivory Coast
Abidjan is the main city of the country. Until 1984 it was the capital, now just a huge metropolis, where four million people live. It is a modern city with good roads and junctions (there are even dedicated lanes for public transport). European travelers call Abidjan the "African New York" because of the many skyscrapers and the fact that the city is partly located on small islands.
But you don't have to look far to see the typical African picture of cities. It is enough to go beyond the central streets: marketplaces and slums are already here.
Yamoussoukro is the capital of the country. This city is the birthplace of the first president of the independent Côte d'Ivoire, so the capital was moved here from Abidjan. The largest Catholic church in the world is located here: the Basilica Blessed virgin Mary and Peace (Notre Dame de la Paix). A little more than 200 thousand people live in Yamoussoukro.
Population
Coordinates
Region de Lagune 5.34111 x -4.02806 Region de Lagune 5.41889 x -4.02056 Vallee du Bandam region 7.68949 x -5.02177 Region du Sassandre 6.87736 x -6.45022 San Pedro Region du Ba-Sassandra 4.73333 x -6.61667 Yamoussoukro Region de Lax 6.82055 x -5.27674 De Savana region Region de Dix-Huit Montagnes 7.41251 x -7.55383 Region du Sud Bandam Region du Fromager 6.12926 x -5.94371 Abengourow Region du Moyen-Zomoe 6.72972 x -3.49639 Region de Lagune 5.49583 x -4.05472 Agboville Region de l'Agneba 5.93417 x -4.22139 Grand Bassam Region du Sud-Tsomoe