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Côte d'Ivoire, also known as Ivory Coast, and officially as the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, is a country on the southern coast of West Africa. Its capital city of Yamoussoukro is located in the centre of the country, while its largest city and economic centre is the port city of Abidjan.
- Overview
- Land
- Relief
- Drainage
- Soils
Côte d’Ivoire, country located on the coast of western Africa. The de facto capital is Abidjan; the administrative capital designate (since 1983) is Yamoussoukro.
Côte d’Ivoire is bounded to the north by Mali and Burkina Faso, to the east by Ghana, to the south by the Gulf of Guinea, to the southwest by Liberia, and to the northwest by Guinea.
The ground rises constantly as it recedes from the coast, and the northern half of the country consists of high savanna lying mostly 1,000 feet (300 metres) above sea level. Most of the western border with Liberia and Guinea is shaped by mountain ranges, whose highest point, Mount Nimba (5,748 feet [1,752 metres]; see also Nimba Range), is situated in the Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1982), where the borders of the three countries meet.
The country is made up of four natural regions. The coastal fringe consists of a strip of land, no more than 40 miles (64 km) wide, studded with lagoons on its eastern half. Access from the sea is made difficult by the surf and by a long submarine sandbar. Behind the coastal fringe lies the equatorial forest zone that until a century ago formed a continuous area more than 125 miles (200 km) wide. It has now been reduced to an area roughly triangular in shape, with the apex lying a little to the north of Abidjan and with the base lying along the Liberian border. The cultivated forest zone, which lies to the east of this triangle, consists of forest land that has been partially cleared for plantations, especially along the Ghana border and in the area around Bouaké. The fourth region, the northern savanna, consists of a sparsely populated plateau, offering open ground favourable for stock breeding. About 4,500 square miles (11,650 square km) in this region have been set aside to form Komoé National Park, which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983.
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Apart from the Cavally River, which forms most of the border with Liberia, major rivers from west to east are the Sassandra, the Bandama, and the Komoé, all of which drain southward into the Gulf of Guinea. Because all are broken by numerous falls and rapids, their value for transportation is minimal. Their hydroelectric potential is being tapped, ...
The forest soils of the south tend to lose their fertility because of excessive leaching and turn into laterites, which contain iron oxide. The poorly drained, yellow, swampy soils, also found largely in the south, more readily maintain their fertility because of their silica and clay minerals content. Crustlike “shields,” formed as a result of rapid evaporation, alternate with rich black silico-clayey soils in the savanna areas.
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- Assouinde Beach. Ah, Assouinde Beach! Imagine stepping onto a stretch of golden sand, where the Atlantic’s waves play a soothing melody. This is one of the Côte d’Ivoire destinations you won’t want to miss.
- Comoe National Park. Comoe National Park is a treasure trove of biodiversity, making it one of the most scenic places in Côte d’Ivoire. Covering a vast area, this park is a sanctuary for a variety of wildlife.
- Grand-Bassam. Grand-Bassam is a town that wears its history on its sleeve. This makes it one of the most beautiful cities in Côte d’Ivoire. Once the capital of French Ivory Coast, the town is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a living museum of colonial architecture.
- Jacqueville. Jacqueville is a coastal town is a hidden gem, often overlooked by tourists but cherished by those who discover it. It’s one of those places to visit in Côte d’Ivoire that offers a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Jul 24, 2023 · For more than three decades after its independence from France, Cote D'Ivoire or Ivory Coast was known for its religious and ethnic harmony, as well as its well-developed economy.
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Feb 24, 2021 · Learn about the geography, history, and culture of Cote d'Ivoire, a West African country with a coastline on the Gulf of Guinea. Explore maps of its districts, regions, cities, rivers, lakes, and mountains.
- 318,003.00 km 2
- 322,463.00 km 2
- 25,716,544
- 4,460.00 km 2
A survey of notable events and people in the history of Côte d’Ivoire. The country, located on the coast of western Africa, is also known as the Ivory Coast. Abidjan is the de facto capital of the country, while the administrative capital designate (since 1983) is Yamoussoukro.
Côte d'Ivoire is a stunner, shingled with starfish-studded sands, palm-tree forests and roads so orange they resemble strips of bronzing powder. This is a true tropical paradise, and a country that is moving towards economic progress – it's a nation that is modernizing its lifestyle and culture, but managing to do so without losing its identity.
