CameroonNeil

= CAMEROON "Paix-Travail-Patrie" =



= The Flag: =

Three equal vertical bands of green, red, and yellow, with a yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band. Red symbolizes unity, yellow the sun, happiness, and the savannahs in the north, and green hope and forrests in the south.

= Introduction: =

Background:

The former French Cameroon and part of British Cameroon merged in 1961 to form the present country. Cameroon is a very stable counrty, which that makes it able to

the development of agriculture, roads, and railways, as well as a petroleum (oil) industry. Despite slow movement toward democratic reform, political power remains in

the hands of President Paul Biya.

=﻿ Geography = Location: Cameroon is located in Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria. The coordinates are 6 00 N, 12 00 E.

Area: The area of Cameroon is 475,442 km (53rd) or 183,568 sq mi. It is slightly bigger than the state of California.

Borders: Central African Republic 797 km, Chad 1,094 km, Republic of Congo 523 km, Equatorial Guinea 189 km, Nigeria 1,690 km.

Climate: It's very tropical weather if you are on the coast line, but in the north it can get very hot sometimes.

Terrain: In the southwest part of Cameroon, you have the coastal plains, plateau's in the center, mountains in the west, and plains in the north.

Natural Resources: Iron ore, timber, bauxite, petroleum, and hydropower.

Natural Hazards: Volcanic activity mainly. Poisonous gases come out of the volcanoes and thats what does the real damage. Many people are effected by this everyday.

Enviromental Issues: There is alot of issues concerning the enviroment. There is poaching, overfishing, deforestation, overgrazing, and waterborne disease.

Land Use: Arable land- 12.65% Permanent crops- 2.52% Other- 84.94%

Agriculture Products: Coffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, bananas, oilseed, grains, livestock, and timber.

= People: = Population: Cameroon's popluation is 18,879,301. They are ranked 58th in the world for population. AIDS and other diseases are the main killer in Cameroon.

Age Percent: 0-14 years of age make up 40.9% of the pop. 15-64 is 55.9% and 65+ is 3.3% As you can see, not many people live very long. This is because they don't have the best medicine or doctors that we have in the United States. Population Growth Rate: 2.19% Increase. Ranked 41st in the world.

Life Expectancy: Total Population- 53.69 years. Male- 52.89 years. Female- 54.52 years. Ranked 210th in the world.

Infant Mortality Rate: Total Population- 63.34 deaths/1,000 live births. Male- 68.08/1,000 live births. Female- 58.47/1,000 live births. Ranked 36th in the world. Net Migration Rate: N/A

Ethnic Groups: Cameroon Highlanders 31%, Equatorial Bantu 19%, Kirdi 11%, Fulani 10%, Northwestern Bantu 8%, Eastern Nigritic 7%, other African 13%, and non-African less than 1%.

Religion: Indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 40%, and Muslim 20%.

Language: 24 major African language groups, English, and French. English and French are the two official languages of Cameroon.

Literacy: People with the age of 15 and older can read and write. Males only 77% and females 59.8%.

Education: Usually kids at the age of 6 to 14 attend school. There are free public schools and then there is private schools that you may attend too. =﻿ Government: = Leader (President):

Paul Biya

overnment Type:

Cameroon is a Republic. There is a President and a party of representatives.

Capital:

The capital of Cameroon is Yaounde.

Suffrage:

20 years.

Independence:

Cameroon recieved it's independence on Janurary 1st, 1960 from a French UN trusteeship.

=﻿Econonmy:= Overall: Since there are many places in Cameroon that are very rich in oil and the agricultural conditions are great, it has one of the best economies in all of Africa.

GDP: (Per Capita) $2,300. This information is from 2009. And it is not in U.S. dollars.

Labor Force: (By Occupation) Agriculture- 70%, Industry- 13%, Service- 10% As you can see, agriculture is one of their biggest and most manned operations.

Unemployment: 30% (2001) Ranked 175th in the world.

Industries: Petroleum production and refining, aluminum products, food processing, light consumer goods, textiles, lumber, and ship repairing.

xports: (Commodities) Crude oil and petroleum products, lumber, cocoa beans, aluminum, coffee, and cotton. Imports: (Commodities)

Machinery, electrical equipment, transport equipment, fuel, and food.

Currency/Exchange Rate: (XAF) en Afrique Centrale francs. Per U.S. dollar- 481.35 (2009) = ﻿Other: = Internet Access: 750,000 (2008)

IIlicit Drugs: Many drugs are smuggled in and out of Cameroon. Some are even grown right in the jungles of it. Park rangers are always trying to track this people down. It's very hard sometimes though.

= Timeline: =
 * 1500's- Portuguese explorers reached the coast of Cameroon and name the area River of Shrimp.

.
 * 1770's-1800's- The Fulani, people from the Western Sahel, conquered what is today northern Cameroon
 * 1850's- Slave trade started.


 * 1884- All present day Cameroon, and parts of other countries next to it, became a German colony


 * 1919- After World War I, the colony was shared by Britain and France.


 * 1960- Cameroon becomes a Republic.


 * 1961- Ahmadou Ahidjo becomes the President.


 * 1966- Ahidjo outlaws all political parties, except for his own.


 * 1970- He captures the last rebel leader.


 * 1972- A new constitution is formed.


 * 1982- Ahidjo resigns as president.

= Tourist Information: = Cameroon is a wonderful place for a vacation. So many sites to see, places to visit, different foods you thought you would never eat. You can experience the ways of Cameroonian life. Enjoy the many beautiful beaches Cameroon has to offer. They aren't as crowed which means you can have peace and quiet. Since Cameroon is right on the coast of Africa, you can enjoy the best seafood around. Fresh right out of the sea. There are many different monuments that you can view. The people in Cameroon will greet you with a big smile. You can meet alot of new people. Some people just like you. The cultural experience will stay with your life forever.
 * 1984- Paul Biya becomes president.

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