Because of historic prints of colonization in the country of Liberia, most of the present practices and cultures are tied to the United States. The long coastline could offer surfing activities, making the country a perfect spot for summer escapade. The beach-side campsites are available while lodging accommodation could also make your stay more comfortable. The Blue Lake found in the heart of Monrovia, the capital city of Liberia has a natural beauty you should see. Your encounters with the locals would make you appreciate the thriving music scene called hip Co, which you could only experience in this country. Never miss the chance to wear the beautiful masks of what most local Liberians sell on the streets!
Important and Interesting Facts About Liberia
- The second Black Republic in the world after Haiti, Liberia, better known as the Republic of Liberia, is an African country located on the west coast of the African continent. It is surrounded by Sierra Leone, Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire (formerly Ivory Coast) on three sides, while the south coast borders Atlantic Ocean.
- It serves as one of the biggest exporters of iron ore in Africa.
- Containing one of the richest ecosystems on the African continent, the Sapo National Park is declared as one of the 261 natural wonders of the world. Home to the world-famous pygmy hippopotamus, this sanctuary has several other animal species and is spread over an area equal to the size of Los Angeles, California.
- Facing the Atlantic Ocean, Liberia’s coastline is characterized by lagoons, mangrove swamps, and river-deposited sandbars; the inland grassy plateau supports limited agriculture.
- The beaches of Liberia are spectacular but difficult to reach and only the strongest swimmers would venture into the sea where the surf is high and the currents strong.
- The wild rubber tree (Funtumia elastica) is indigenous, but the cultivated Hevea brasiliensis is the source of Liberia’s commercial rubber. A variety of coffee peculiar to Liberia, Coffea liberica, was formerly common but has given way to the preferred Coffea robusta. Fruit trees include citrus varieties, the alligator apple, papaya, mango, and avocado. Pineapples grow wild. Among the cultivated plants are cassava, cotton, cacao, indigo, and upland rice.
- Situated north of Liberia, it is known to be the home of Lamco, an operational iron mining company. Its major attraction however is Guesthouse Hill, the country’s highest point.
- Sapo National Park. It’s the country’s best nature reserve. If you enjoy a trip to Zwedru, you will enjoy Sapo National Park even more. Animal species unique to the area can be seen here including the African Civet, Giant Forest Hog, Great Blue Turaco, and White Necked Rockfowl. Crocodiles, leopards, bee-eaters, and kingfishers also thrive in its land.
- The city is one of the top tourist attractions in Liberia for several reasons. It combines historical attractions with beaches. Harper’s beaches offer swimming, surfing, and scuba diving opportunities.
- Executive Mansion. It is located in Monrovia and serves as a home to the president and his family. Government meetings involving cabinet members are often held here. You may find some historical items in several rooms of the mansion. Catching a glimpse of them is enough to make your trip to the palace worthwhile.
- It’s another mining town but its buildings are the most interesting sights here. Structures build between the late 1800s and early 1900s can be seen lined up along roads. Nimba also has a museum showcasing remnants of early mines.
Cool, Funny, and Fun Facts About Liberia
- South Africa’s leader Nelson Mandela, one of the most admired world’s icons, was born in Liberia.
- Sliding Liberia has a slick website with features on Liberia’s two best known breaks, Mamba Point and Robertsport. The film was directed and produced by two Stanford students, Britton Caillouette and Nicholai Lidow, with an interest in both Liberia and surfing. Nicholai returned to Liberia in 2007 and brought everyone featured in the film a portable DVD player and a rough cut of the film. Sliding Liberia is available on Netflix, iTunes, and Amazon. They also have a Facebook app.
- The longest river in Liberia is named after a fish. The Cavalla River emerges north of the Nimba Range in Guinea and it flows south forming part of the Liberia-Cote d’Ivoire border. The fish is the cavalla, a kind of horse mackerel.
- Houses in Liberia are usually built from sun-dried local clay bricks coated with plaster, with a galvanized corrugated iron roof. The soils of much of Nimba County, Liberia were the red, iron-rich weathered products of millions of years of high temperatures and high rainfall experienced in tropical areas. This type of soil is called ‘laterite’.
- The original name of Monrovia, capital of Liberia, was Christianopolis.
- Joseph Jenkins Roberts was an octoroon (he was one-eight black) was the first president of Liberia. He could easily have passed-off as a white man.
- The country is literally a bird-haven. Liberia has 700 bird species which include a bird that is a wee bit larger than a honey bee- the bee warbler.
- Oprah Winfrey had traced her ancestors back to the Liberian region of Kpelle.
- George Weah a Liberian citizen was the only African to hold three prestigious sports titles in one single year- In 1995 he was named – African Footballer of the Year, FIFA World Player of the Year and European Footballer of the Year.
- After Haiti, Liberia is the world’s second Black Republic.
Historical and Cultural Facts About Liberia
- One third of married Liberian women between the ages of 15-49 are in polygamous marriages. Customary law allows men to have up to 4 wives.
- Liberia has its own ancient music and instruments. While Liberian music is part of wider West African music heritage, it is also distinct from its neighbors. There are several different types of drums used in traditional music. Next to drums, beaded gourd rattles called Saassaa are also used in mainstream music by many Liberian singers, musicians, and ensembles across the country.
- Liberia is renowned for its detailed decorative and ornate masks, large and miniature wood carvings of realistic human faces, famous people, scenes of everyday life and accessories particularly combs, spoons and forks which are often enlarged sculptures. Sculptures are produced in both the countryside and cities.
- Liberian wood curved sculptures are heavily influenced by ancient history predating modern Liberia, folklore, proverbs, spirituality, rural life and show the artist’s strong observations for grand detail and their connections to the people and objects sculpted.
- Poetry is a prominent canon of Liberian literature. Many authors have presented their pose in all poetic styles. Often adding their own unique perspectives, writing styles and observation of the material and spiritual worlds into their books. Liberia’s prominent writers also share a variety of genres that cross several decades.
- In the 19th century, Edward Wilmot Blyden was the most renowned Liberian author. A diplomat, educator, statesman and writer, Blyden was considered one of the early fathers of Pan Africanism along with W. E. B. Du Bois and Marcus Garvy. His writings revolved around the need for Africans to develop their own identity, be culturally, spiritually and politically aware of their own potential and preside over their own self-rule.
- Liberian cuisine has rice as the staple. Other ingredients include cassava, fish, bananas, citrus fruit, plantains, coconut, okra and sweet potatoes. Heavy stews spiced with habanero and scotch bonnet chillies are popular and eaten with fufu.
- The staple diet of most Liberians was rice and pepper soup which was made from whatever meat and vegetables were available. The most celebrated soup which incorporated an ingredient which was found in abundance and in earlier years had resulted in the area being known as the “Malaguetta Coast”.
- Monrovia, Liberia, was named after James Monroe – 5th U.S. president – and Buchanan, Liberia’s second largest city, after Thomas Buchanan, the first Governor of the Commonwealth of Liberia and cousin of the 15th president of the U.S.A., James Buchanan.
- Liberia in 1960 was elected to the Security Council of the United Nations, the first black African country ever to occupy a seat in this body.
