Equatorial+Guinea

Overview


==Over all, I think that this place would be a fun and exciting place to visit. The animals and people there are very interesting to learn about. Their population is rapidly growing. They are also losing food so they are starting to lose their jobs. They are an oil rich country and are still growing. I think that i would come and visit here some day but you would have to bring a lot of cold clothes! == ~Kristen Kasel~

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==Equatorial Guinea has experienced rapid economic growth due to the discovery of large offshore oil reserves, and has become Sub-Saharan Africa’s third largest oil exporter after Nigeria and Angola. According to the World Bank, oil revenues increased in value from $3 million in 1993 to $190 million in 2000 to $3.3 billion in 2006. From 2002 to 2006 the country experienced an average real annual GDP growth of 15.8 percent. Oil exports currently represent over 90 percent of total export earnings. However, a slowdown in oil production has caused GDP growth to decelerate to 6.8 percent in 2007.== == ==

Geography [[image:http://portal.unesco.org/geography/en/files/2611/11951168151guinee_equatoriale_flag.gif/guinee_equatoriale_flag.gif]]
==//The Republic of **Equatorial Guinea** is located in west central// //Africa////.// //Bioko Island// //lies about 40 kilometers (25 mi.) from// //Cameroon////.// //Annobón// //Island lies about 595 kilometers (370 mi.) southwest of Bioko Island. The larger continental region of// //Rio Muni// //lies between Cameroon and// //Gabon// //on the mainland; it includes the islands of// //Corisco////,// //Elobey Grande////,// //Elobey Chico////, and adjacent islets.//==

//Equatorial Guinea gained independence in 1968 after 190 years of Spanish rule. This tiny country, composed of a mainland portion plus five inhabited islands, is one of the smallest on the African continent. President OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO has ruled the country for over two decades since seizing power from his uncle, then President MACIAS, in a 1979 coup. Although nominally a constitutional democracy since 1991, the 1996 and 2002 presidential elections - as well as the 1999 legislative elections - were widely seen as being flawed. The president controls most opposition parties through the judicious use of patronage. Despite the country's economic windfall from oil production resulting in a massive increase in government revenue in recent years, there have been few improvements in the country's living standards. // //land:// 28,051 sq km //water:// 0 sq km || //border countries:// Cameroon 189 km, Gabon 350 km || //exclusive economic zone:// 200 nm || //highest point:// Pico Basile 3,008 m || //permanent crops:// 3.57% //other:// 91.8% (2001) ||
 * Location: || Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Cameroon and Gabon ||
 * Geographic coordinates: || 2 00 N, 10 00 E ||
 * Map references: || Africa ||
 * Area: || //total:// 28,051 sq km
 * Area - comparative: || slightly smaller than Maryland ||
 * Land boundaries: || //total:// 539 km
 * Coastline: || 296 km ||
 * Maritime claims: || //territorial sea:// 12 nm
 * Climate: || tropical; always hot, humid ||
 * Terrain: || coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic ||
 * Elevation extremes: || //lowest point:// Atlantic Ocean 0 m
 * Natural resources: || petroleum, natural gas, timber, gold, bauxite, diamonds, tantalum, sand and gravel, clay ||
 * Land use: || //arable land:// 4.63%
 * Irrigated land: || NA sq km ||
 * Natural hazards: || violent windstorms, flash floods ||
 * Environment - current issues: || tap water is not potable; deforestation ||
 * Environment - international agreements: || //party to:// Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ship Pollution ||

History Equatorial Guinea, formerly Spanish Guinea, consists of Río Muni (10,045 sq mi; 26,117 sq km), on the western coast of Africa, and several islands in the Gulf of Guinea, the largest of which is Bioko (formerly Fernando Po) (785 sq mi; 2,033 sq km). The other islands are Annobón, Corisco, Elobey Grande, and Elobey Chico. The total area is twice that of Connecticut.

The mainland was originally inhabited by Pygmies. The Fang and Bubi migrated there in the 17th century and to the main island of Fernando Po (now called Bioko) in the 19th century. In the 18th century, the Portuguese ceded land to the Spanish that included Equatorial Guinea. From 1827 to 1844, Britain administered Fernando Po, but it was then reclaimed by Spain. Río Muni, the mainland, was not occupied by the Spanish until 1926. Spanish Guinea, as it was then called, gained independence from Spain on Oct. 12, 1968. It is Africa's only Spanish-speaking country.

The mainland was originally inhabited by Pygmies. The Fang and Bubi migrated there in the 17th century and to the main island of Fernando Po (now called Bioko) in the 19th century. In the 18th century, the Portuguese ceded land to the Spanish that included Equatorial Guinea. From 1827 to 1844, Britain administered Fernando Po, but it was then reclaimed by Spain. Río Muni, the mainland, was not occupied by the Spanish until 1926. Spanish Guinea, as it was then called, gained independence from Spain on Oct. 12, 1968. It is Africa's only Spanish-speaking country.



Economy The discovery of large oil reserves in 1996 and its subsequent exploitation have contributed to a dramatic increase in government revenue. As of 2004, Equatorial Guinea is the third-largest oil producer in Sub-Saharan Africa. Its oil production has risen to 360,000 barrels/day, up from 220,000 only two years earlier. Pre-independence Equatorial Guinea counted on cocoa production for hard currency earnings. In 1959 it had the highest per capita income of Africa.

The main foods are cassava root, bananas, rice, and yams. People supplement their primarily plant-based diet through hunting and fishing. Palm wine and //malamba // (an alcoholic drink made from sugarcane) are both popular.

Government

The government is a d ictatorship.  <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Equatorial Guinea declares itself a multiparty democracy, although in practice it is a dictatorship under the leadership of the Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea (PDGE). The legislature consists of the unicameral House of People's Representatives, a body of eighty elected officials. The president appoints a cabinet. In practice he exercises strong control over all aspects of the government, including the legislative and judiciary branches.

<span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">The oil is getting more and more valuable, there for the people in Equatorial Guinea are getting more rich. Equatorial Guinea is an oil-rich, developing country on the western coast of central Africa. Its capital and main port, Malabo, is located on the island of Bioko, off the coast of Cameroon. A secondary port, Luba, is also on Bioko. The mainland territory of Equatorial Guinea is bordered by Cameroon and Gabon. The principal city on the mainland is Bata. Facilities for tourism are limited but growing. Official languages are Spanish, which is widely spoken, and French, which is not widely understood, but sometimes used in business dealings. Religion <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">This is their church!

<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Although African traditional religion has left its vestiges among the indigenous tribes, about 93% of the population are Christian. Within the Christian population, 87% are Roman Catholic and about 5% are mainline Protestant, primarily Baptist and Episcopalian. Though there is no state religion, a 1992 law established an official preference for the Catholic Church and the Reform Church of Equatorial Guinea, based on the traditional importance of these two denominations in popular culture. Religious study (primarily Catholic) is required in public schools. <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console', Monaco, monospace;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"> It is necessary for the Ministry of Justice and Religion to approve a religious organization before it is allowed to practice. The government is wary of the Catholic Church, as it has a history of criticizing human rights violations. Nonetheless, Catholic religious study is part of public education, and 80 percent of the population is Roman Catholic. The other 20 percent have held on to their traditional beliefs, and even many who nominally subscribe to Catholicism continue to follow traditional religious practices. There are a few Muslims, mostly Hausa traders in the region. The indigenous beliefs are animist, attributing spiritual energy to natural formations such as rivers, mountains, and trees. <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Culture

<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">As a Spanish colony, the area was formerly known as Spanish Guinea. There are two main cultural and ethnic traditions: the Fang, on the mainland, and the Bubi, on the island of Bioko. <span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Equatorial Guinea's culture on the mainland is heavily entrenched in ancient rituals and songs. This is especially true for the Fang while on the capital island of Bioko has largely been influenced by Spanish customs and traditions during the colonal period. During the colonial period education and health services were developed in the country.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Social Problems The legal system is based on a combination of Spanish law and the tribal system. Violent crime (and even petty theft) is rare compared to rates in other African nations. The government greatly restricts the rights of its citizens. The judicial system does not ensure due process, and prisoners are often tortured. The government has a record of arbitrary arrest, interference with privacy and family, restriction of movement, and lack of freedom of speech, press, and religion, among other abuses. <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Other <span style="color: rgb(10,255,0); font-family: Georgia, serif;">[]

These are some animals that live in Equatorial Guinea...





This information was found by Kristen Kasel! [] [] [] [] [] []