On the Equator, in central Africa, is the tiny, stunning nation of Gabon. 🌍 Despite its challenging economy and shoddy infrastructure, this nation has some spectacular landscapes that are a visual feast 🏞️.
This article explores the Gabon Facts that will increase your knowledge and curiosity.
Interesting Gabon Facts To Discover the Mysteries of Africa’s Green Jewel
Gabon has more than 10,000 years.
The Pygmy tribe was the first known group to live in Gabon 🗿. However, it is easier to say how long they lived there once being discovered.
Most of the information available indicates that they were driven out and assimilated by the Bantu people after migrating to the area in the 18th century.
However, according to archaeological findings, it is thought that humans have been present in Gabon today for more than 400,000 years 🕒.
The Kingdom of Orungu
One of the first and most potent empires existed in modern-day Gabon. The kingdom rose to prominence thanks to a variety of commodities 👑. Slavery was formerly the most profitable transatlantic trade item, surpassing gold and ivory.
Between the 18th and 19th centuries, this small pre-colonial kingdom prospered on its ability to bargain and sell enslaved people.
Despite this, the domain didn’t endure for long because the abolition of the slave trade in the 1870s significantly reduced its authority.
Colonisation by France in Gabon
1875 French-Italian explorer Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza made his initial foray into the region. He set out to conquer Gabon-Congo and establish it as a French colony.
Upon his arrival, Pierre found Franceville, one of Gabon’s largest cities 😮, and was appointed colonial governor.
Conflicts with the populace were not reflected in any records. A few Bantu clans coexisted peacefully with the French in the area when they gained control of it formally in 1885.
The nation joined French Equatorial Africa as a colony in 1910, thriving there until 1958.
The Independence of Gabon
Following World War II, the Allies invaded Gabon to topple the colonial government that supported Vichy France.
They were successful because Gabon was still a part of the French Community and became an independent republic in 1958 🎉.
The nation finally achieved complete independence from France in 1960. August 17 is Gabon’s national holiday.
The First President of Gabon
Léon M’ba served as the Republic of Gabon’s first president. From 1961 to 1967, a period of six years, he served as president of the nation until his death.
Omar Bongo, Léon M’ba’s vice president and Gabon’s second and longest-serving president succeeded him as the nation’s leader.
Between 1967 and 2009, he presided over Gabon for 42 years 👥.
National Park of Loango: The place of Gabon
In terms of nature, Loango National Park has it all 🏞️. Savannas, woods, mangroves, swamps, salt marshes, and lagoons can all be found in the park.
Within the boundaries of this park, you can also find some of Gabon’s top beaches. People may have a fantastic safari experience in Loango Park 🦁.
It offers captivating wildlife and some lovely scenery. You can see incredible wildlife when visiting the Loango National Park in Gabon.
Elephants 🐘, dolphins, buffalo, and surfing hippos are some of the animals that call this area home.
Pongara: Gabon’s national park
Mangrove forests and damp tropical climates can be found in Pongara Park 🌳. It spans more than 900 square kilometers and is situated close south of Libreville, the nation’s capital.
Some of Gabon’s most excellent white sand beaches may be in Pongara.
Pongara is a haven for coastal wildlife. Dolphins 🐋 and humpback whales can also be seen around Pongara on cruises or from observation spots.
The most vibrant area is the FernanVaz Lagoon.
This lagoon is located on the country’s Atlantic coast in the province of Ogooue. The region was named FeranoVaz in honor of the first European to set foot there.
The FerananVaz Lagoon is renowned for having abundant fauna and breathtaking views of the forest and beaches 🏖️.
The church at Mission Saint Anne is one notable Gabon landmark near FeranVaz Lagoon. Gustav Eiffel, a French civil engineer renowned for creating the Eiffel Tower in Paris, created its design in 1889.
Gabon’s national park
The Ivindo Park serves as a habitat for these plants and animals. The river that runs through the rainforest and creates a stunning array of slopes and waterfalls is the feature that makes the country most well-known.
Ivindo National Park has at least 400 different species of birds 🦜.
The African grey parrot is one of Gabon’s famous and entertaining creatures. In addition, among many other animals, visitors can view mandrills, buffaloes, bush pigs, chimps 🦍, and even lowland gorillas in this park.
Gabon’s monetary system
The Central African CFA Franc is Gabon’s national currency 💰. The sole legal tender in the nation is this.
The U.S. dollar is accepted as legal tender in various nationwide locations, such as hotels, tourist attractions, and international marketplaces.
The CFA Franc is coined as coins (1 franc, 2 francs, 5 francs, 10 francs, 25 francs, 50 francs, 100 francs, and 500 francs), banknotes (500, 1000, 2000, 5000, and 10,000 francs), and tokens 💵. You should know that Gabon is one of many countries using the Central African CFA Franc.
Chicken Nyembwe, the federal dish
There are so many foods with African themes in Gabon. Fish, poultry (mainly chicken and bush meat), sauces, fruits (especially bananas), and other ingredients like cassava and maize are all common and traditional dishes in Gabon.
Nyembwe chicken 🍗, often called a poulet chicken by others, is the national cuisine of Gabon. Chicken and palm oil are used to make the stew, then seasoned and spiced 🍲.
Finally, veggies, garlic, and turmeric are added to intensify the flavor even more.
Gabon is the nation that produces masks.
They enjoy creating masks 🎭, and it is safe to say that it is a ritual and an essential aspect of Gabonese culture. The simple manner that Gabonians honor their ancestors, in their eyes, is by creating and donning masks.
The masks are distinctive because of their varied design and geometric shapes. The unique characteristics vary depending on the tribe.
The Gabonese language
Many Francophone (French-speaking) nations, including Gabon, are on the African continent. Given its colonial past with France, it is unsurprising that French is Gabon’s official language 🗣️.
In Gabon, there are numerous indigenous languages spoken in addition to French.
In addition, many Bantu languages, including Fang, Nzebi, Bandjabi, and Myene, are still spoken and understood in the neighborhood. 🇫🇷
The National Sport is Football
Football (soccer) is the most played sport in Gabon, as it is in most African nations. The national team of the man in Gabon is known as “The Panthers” or “Les Panthers.”
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, a football player from Gabon, is the most well-known player in that nation ⚽.
He has built a career working for prestigious English Premier League football teams, including Arsenal FC and Chelsea FC.
Africa’s Unexplored Land in Gabon
Over 175 km of Gabon’s Loango National Park coastline is uninhabited. As a result, it is one of Africa’s last uninhabited areas.
It’s safe to argue that it resembles a different Eden. The abundance of healthy animals in Gabon suggests that it is one of the more remote regions of the African continent 🦁.
Gabon’s topography
Gabon’s magnificent landscapes contribute to some of the most breathtaking views on the African continent 🌍. The landscape comprises a plateau, tall mountains, woods, isolated savannas, and undulating hills.
The country’s surface is covered in rainforest at least 80%. In the Congo region, Gabon has the second-largest forest area 🌳.
The Equator passes through Gabon.
The Equator crosses only 13 nations on Earth, including Gabon. The Equator is a line that splits the world in half horizontally.
One such nation that is split down the middle by the Equator is Gabon.
This suggests that the country is divided into two halves, with one half located in the northern and the other in the southern hemisphere. In other words, Gabon has some of the best tropical climates 🌐.
The nation’s most renowned river
The Komo River, as it is also known. The Woleu-Ntem plateau in Equatorial Guinea is the river’s natural source 🌊; however, a significant portion of the watershed is located inside Gabon’s boundaries.
This sizable river cuts across both Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, covering a distance of more than 230 kilometers. The Mbeya River is the Komo River’s most significant tributary.
The first Europeans to enter Gabon were the Portuguese.
The Portuguese were the first known Europeans to enter Gabon, one of the country’s lesser-known facts.
Portuguese traders and explorers established permanent outposts in 1472, particularly near the mouth of the Ogooué River, and their missionaries soon after.
They brought Gabon into the Atlantic slave trade by establishing sugar plantations and buying locals’ slaves.
In 1960, Gabon gained its independence.
The pan-African movement for emancipation from colonialism gained ground in Gabon in the 1950s.
As a result, Gabon was granted autonomy within the French Community on November 28, 1958, and on August 17, 1960, it attained complete independence from France 🗽.
In this article, we have read about various facts about Gabon. To know more, follow our website.
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