Liberia - Liberia

	ATTENTION: After the long and contagious epidemic of hemorrhagic fever (Ebola) that began in March 2014, on September 3, 2015, given that there have been no suspected cases for more than 40 days, the WHO has announced the end of the emergency. However, the Farnesina does not recommend travel in any way to the country [1]

Liberia is a nation ofWest Africa overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in the southwest and bordered in the north by Sierra Leone is Guinea, and to the east with the Ivory Coast.

To know

Geographical notes

The physical environment of Liberia consists of a plateau that slopes down to a coastal plain. The highest point is Mount Nimba, on the border with the Guinea and the Ivory Coast with its 1,752 meters. In the northwest of the country is Mount Wuteve which with its 1,440 meters is the second highest peak in Liberia. The coast is flat and bordered by coastal bars.

The waterways of Liberia take a predominantly southwestern course, following the morphology of the land, which leads them from the inland highlands to flow into the Atlantic Ocean. The north-western border is crossed by the Mano River while the south-eastern one is bordered by the Cavally River. The three longest rivers in the country are the Saint Paul which flows nearby Monrovia, the Saint John and the Cestos.

When to go

It should be borne in mind that the climate is tropical, characterized by high seasonal rainfall (almost 6 months a year) and by an average temperature exceeding 25 ° C.

Background

The history of Liberia is relatively recent, it begins with the arrival of the first African American settlers who established a colony of "free men of color" on its shores in 1822. On July 26, 1847, the American-Liberians declared the independence of the Republic of Liberia.

In more recent times, Liberia has seen two bloody civil wars in 1989 and 1999, which ended in August 2003 with the signing of the Accra.

Spoken languages

The Mande languages ​​are used in the northern and western parts of the country, while the Kru languages ​​are used in the eastern and southern ones. English is the mother tongue of 2.5% of the population returning to the country from United States of America and is spoken by the majority of the population. English is however the official language of Liberia. Other languages ​​used in the country are Gola and Kpelle.

Territories and tourist destinations

Liberia is divided into 15 counties.

Urban centers

Other destinations

How to get

Entry requirements

Passport and VISA. Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory for all travelers, regardless of where they come from. The VISA is obtained at the Embassy of Liberia in Rome, the cost is 70 euros and it takes 3 working days. In addition, a certificate for vaccination against yellow fever, a return ticket and 2 passport photos are required.

How to get around

By car

In the state there is a road network that connects the main destinations over 10,000 km wide, but in 2001 only 657 km of it were paved.

On boat

Several times a week a ferry passes by Monrovia to Harper, in the southern part of the state.

What see

• Liberian National Museum, located at Monrovia it is a very significant place where the sad history of the country is contained.
• Waterside Market, a market located in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, a Monrovia, is one of the largest markets in the country, it is often crowded. The "stalls" of this market mainly sell local food and fruits, but also statuettes and small objects that can be good souvenirs.
• Sinkor beach, of all the beaches in Liberia, probably the best is that of Sinkor, very popular with families where they often gather to have a barbecue, and by young people who use the beach mainly to practice sports, especially football.

What to do

Liberia is a country where activities such as fishing and safaris are highly recommended, although the local economy does not give much space to tourism, immersing yourself in the unspoiled nature of the country can be a wonderful experience.

Currency and purchases

WAMZ - Map of participating countries

The national currency is the Liberian dollar (Amla). Euros are not accepted and it is not easy to change them. It is advisable to enter the country with Dollars. Credit cards are not accepted either and only a few businesses accept travelers checks. There Monetary Zone of West Africa (West African Monetary Zone - WAMZ), to which the following states belong: Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, adheres to Economic Community of West African States (Economic Community of West African States - ECOWAS / Communauté Économique des États de l'Afrique de l'Ouest - CEDEAO). The WAMZ plans to introduce a single currency called by 2020 Echo.

ECOWAS - Map of participating countries

Below are the links to know the current exchange rate with the main world currencies:

(EN) With Google Finance:	AUDCADCHFEURGBPHKDJPYUSD
With Yahoo! Finance:	AUDCADCHFEURGBPHKDJPYUSD
(EN) With XE.com:	AUDCADCHFEURGBPHKDJPYUSD
(EN) With OANDA.com:	AUDCADCHFEURGBPHKDJPYUSD

At the table

The Liberian cuisine has in many dishes rice, the main food of the country. Other ingredients are cassava, fish, bananas, citrus fruits, plantains, coconut and sweet potatoes. Spicy stews with habanero and chillies are popular. Liberia also has a cooking tradition imported from United States which is unique in West Africa.

Tourist infrastructure

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Events and parties

National holidays

Safety

Petty crime is widespread, especially after sunset due to the lack of night lighting. Care should be taken when moving outside of Monrovia. Finally, we must keep a lot of respect for local customs.

Health situation

Health facilities are very poor. Urban diseases are not widespread, however malaria prophylaxis, vaccinations against hepatitis A and B and tuberculosis are recommended.

Respect the customs

In Liberia, in hotels and any other service, a tip is often required.

How to keep in touch

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Other projects

• Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Liberia
• Commons contains images or other files on Liberia
• Wikiquote contains quotes from or on Liberia
• Wikinews contains current news on Liberia