Liberia is a tiny nation in West Africa with a lengthy and complicated history. 🌍 Liberia was founded in the early 19th century as a colony for enslaved Americans who had been freed.
Since then, it has developed into a lively, diversified country with a distinct culture and identity.
Liberia is Africa’s first and oldest modern nation and the first to declare independence. It was one of the few African nations that preserved its freedom during the Scramble for Africa.
This article explores the untold Liberia Facts that satisfy your curious soul 🤗.
Interesting Liberia Facts
Liberia was established for former slaves of African descent.
The American Colonisation Society established Liberia in 1821 to provide a refuge for formerly enslaved Americans. A variety of reasons drove this movement.
Abolitionists who believed that the expulsion of people who had been enslaved people from the United States supported the institution 🏛️ of slavery criticized some of these reasons. Around 15,000 African Americans moved to Liberia between 1822 and 1861.
Liberia’s official language is English.
Due to its historical ties to the US, English is the official language of Liberia 🗣️. In addition to English, over 20 other languages are spoken nationwide. The English language has many subgenres.
The most traditional form of English is Liberian English.
However, other dialects, including Kru Pidgin, Liberian Creole, Merico, and Caribbean English, are also widely used.
The three languages, Mel, Mande, and Kru, collectively make up the other 22 languages spoken in Liberia.
One of West Africa’s Best Surf Spots is in Liberia
Only a select few people could name Liberia one of Africa’s top surfing spots if asked 🌊. People travel worldwide to Robertsport in Northwestern Liberia to ride the waves in a secluded and picturesque environment.
Robertsport also boasts a thriving local surfing scene. 3-5 hours separate Monrovia from the little fishing hamlet of Robertsport 🏄♂️.
The Atlantic’s point break waves have produced fantastic surfing conditions here.
Near the Surf Club in Robertsport, which provides surf instruction and board rentals, are several guest houses, including Nana’s Lodge and Philip’s Guesthouse 🏠.
There are 16 major indigenous ethnic groups in Liberia.
At least 16 indigenous ethnic groups reside in Liberia, the largest of which, the Kpelle, makes up about 20% of the country’s population. Bassa, Grebo, Gio, Kru, Lorma, Kissi, Gola, Mano, Mandingo, Krahn, Gbandi, Loma, Vai, Kuwaa, and Dey comprise the remaining 15 groups.
Waves of Time, an exhibit at the Liberia National Museum 🖼️, takes visitors on a voyage through time to discover more about Liberia, its people, and its history.
Liberia is the oldest republic in Africa.
Liberia proclaimed independence on July 26, 1847. South Africa declared its split from the British in 1910, making it the second African nation to achieve independence.
Liberia became independent relatively quickly compared to other countries in the area, making it the continent’s first officially recognized independent state 😮💨.
This remarkable fact is commemorated by several monuments in Monrovia, including the Centennial Pavilion and the Joseph Jenkins Robert Memorial.
Rarities and Endangered Animals Can Be Found in Liberia
Numerous rare and imperiled species, including the Diana Monkey 🦧, Upper Guinea Red Colobus, Western Chimpanzee, and Pygmy Hippopotamus, can be found in Liberia.
By establishing protected zones, hiring Forestry Development Authority Rangers to keep an eye on the protected areas, and teaching locals to spot animal and illicit human activity in the forest, Liberia is attempting to safeguard these priceless species.
Learn more about the Liberia Chimpanzee Rescue and Protection and Libassa Wildlife Sanctuary’s conservation and rescue initiatives 🌳.
700 different bird species reside in Liberia
It should come as no surprise that Sapo National Park is home to an astounding 590 different species of birds 🐦, given that it is the second-largest protected primary tropical rainforest in West Africa.
These include endangered species like the white-necked rockfowl and the white-breasted guinea fowl.
In Sapo National Park, you can also find the African fish eagle, the grey parrot, the great blue turaco, egrets, hornbills, kingfishers, rollers, and sunbirds.
The pygmy hippo, forest elephants, and chimpanzees all call Sapo National Park, the southeast region’s first national park, home 🌴.
Liberia’s Beautiful Forests and Jungles are Home to More Than 800 Species of Butterflies
There are numerous butterfly species here, similar to the abundance of bird species in Liberia. More than 800 exquisite butterfly species live everywhere 🦋, from the coast to the bush.
For instance, the Giant African Swallowtail, the most oversized butterfly in Africa, may be seen in the East Nimba Nature Reserve.
Even more species, according to scientists, may still be undiscovered.
The tropical forest in Liberia covers more than 6.6 million hectares.
Most of the remaining Upper Guinean Forest is located in Liberia, and this magnificent rainforest is one of the nation’s most incredible resources 🌳.
A hotspot for biodiversity exists in West Africa’s Upper Guinean Forest.
Thirty-six locations qualify as hotspots around the world, according to Conservation International.
Over half of the world’s endemic plant species and 44% of its endemic birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians live in these global hotspots 🌍.
Emerging Tourist Destinations in Liberia
The Liberian government sees tourism as a crucial component of the country’s economy ✈️. As a result, the government of Liberia encourages the travel and tourist sector.
As a result, there are already a lot of adventures out there for you to experience. To get ideas for your vacation, look at the top 10 attractions in Liberia 🗺️.
Typical foods served in Liberia
Most meals include fufu 🥘 (fermented cassava/tapioca), one of the staples. Unripe plantains and raw cassava are used to make fufu. Cassava root is peeled in the same manner as plantains.
Both are cleaned, put in a saucepan with water, cooked until soft, and then had the water removed before being pounded.
The plantain is first crushed and set aside in a bowl or saucepan, followed by the cassava.
Once the plantain and cassava have reached their elasticity, they are pounded together until thoroughly combined and served with either light palm nut or ground nut soup 🍛.
Hyrax is a designated species of Liberia.
The western tree hyrax is a hyrax species indigenous to Central and West Africa. It is often called Beecroft’s tree hyrax or the western tree dassie.
It stands out from other hyraxes thanks to its short, coarse fur and white skin patch beneath the chin.
This mammal resembles a giant guinea pig and spends most of its time alone. However, it occasionally forms groups of two to three individuals.
Liberia’s educational system
In Liberia, getting a good education is difficult 📚. The 14-year civil war’s lingering impacts and the 2014 closure of schools due to the Ebola outbreak significantly affected the educational system.
With an estimated 15 to 20% of children ages 6 to 14 not attending school, it has one of the highest rates of out-of-school children in the entire world.
Only 54% of kids finish primary school 🏫, and just over a third of pre-schoolers have access to early childhood learning programs.
Liberia’s recognized mountain ranges
Along the border between Guinea and Ivory Coast in West Africa is Mount Richard-Molard, also called Mount Nimba. The Nimba Range’s highest peak, shared by both nations, is 1,752 meters high.
A portion of the Guinea Highlands, which spans the boundaries of the two countries and Liberia, includes the peak.
The second-highest mountain range in the world 🏔️ is another name for it also a well-known tourist destination.
The largest cruise ships in the world are registered there.
The cruise industry is frequently charged with flying a “flag of convenience” by registering its ships in nations with laxer labor standards 🚢. Most NCL’s ships—all but one—are registered in the Bahamas.
In contrast, Carnival, MSC, Oceania Cruises, and P&O Cruises are registered in the Marshall Islands, Bermuda, and Panama.
Additionally, 13% of the world’s maritime fleet, including the three largest cruise ships and Royal Caribbean International, are incorporated in Liberia.
In this article, we have read about the various facts of Liberia. To know more, follow our website.
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