GUINEA
The Republic of Guinea, a state in West Africa, has access to the Atlantic coast. It borders in the north-west with Guinea-Bissau, in the north with Senegal, in the north and east with Mali, in the south-east with Cote d'Ivoire, in the south with Liberia and Sierra Leone. thousand sq. km, population - 7673 thousand people (1998) The capital is the city of Conakry (800 thousand inhabitants, 1996). Other large cities are Kankan, Kindia, Labe, Sigiri.

Guinea. The capital is Conakry. Population - 7673 thousand people (1998). The population density is 31 people per 1 sq. km. Urban population - 23%, rural - 77%. Area - 245.9 thousand sq. km. The highest point is Mount Nimba (1752 m). The main languages ​​are Fulbe, Malinke, Susu, French (official). The main religions are Islam, local traditional beliefs. Administrative division - 8 provinces. Monetary unit: Guinean franc = 100 centimes. National holiday: Independence Day - October 2. National Anthem: "Freedom".

At the end of the 19th century. Guinea was conquered by France and incorporated into French West Africa. After World War II, a massive national liberation movement gained strength in Guinea, led by Sekou Toure. In a referendum on September 28, 1958 on the draft of a new French constitution, almost the entire population of Guinea supported the anti-colonial course. The Guineans rejected the idea of ​​including the country in the French Community, choosing the path of complete independence from the metropolis. On October 2, 1958, the independent Republic of Guinea was proclaimed. In response, France immediately cut off all communications with Guinea and withdrew all French personnel from there. Independent Guinea, led by President Sekou Touré, who held this post until his death in 1984, was one of the radical African states that held positions of pan-Africanism.
Nature. The territory of Guinea is divided into four physical and geographical regions. The first of them, located in the west of the country - Lower, or Primorskaya, Guinea - is a flat lowland up to 32 km wide, with heights of less than 150 m above sea level. The swampy strip of the coast is covered with mangroves, dense rocks come to the surface only in the area of ​​Conakry. Lower Guinea is a region of commodity-export agriculture. Mainly representatives of the Susu people live here. The rivers Kogon, Fatala and Konkure, cutting through the lowlands, originate in the deep valleys of the second region - Central Guinea. Here, the Futa Djallon sandstone massif with peaks of 1200-1400 m crosses the country from north to south. The highest point of the plateau, located north of Labe, is Mount Tamge (1538 m). Central Guinea is characterized by a predominance of savannah landscapes, in the highest places there are mountain meadows. The area is inhabited by the Fulbe people. The predominant occupation of the population is animal husbandry. To the east of the Futa-Djallon massif, on the plains in the basin of the upper course of the Niger River, Upper Guinea is located. This is a savannah region inhabited mainly by Malinke farmers. Forest Guinea, located in the southeast of the country, occupies part of the North Guinean Uplands with small massifs of remnant mountains. Here, near the border with Liberia, in the Nimba Mountains, is the highest point of Guinea (1752 m). In this area, savannahs make up the background, in some areas, especially along river valleys, tropical forests have been preserved. In Forest Guinea, there are many small peoples who are engaged in agriculture. The climate of Guinea is characterized by a pronounced contrast between the wet season, which lasts from May to October (and on the coast - longer than on the plains of the northeast) and the dry season, when a hot wind blows from the northeast - harmatan. With the exception of its northernmost part, the coastal lowland is reliably protected by mountains from dry winds. Moist southwestern winds bring abundant rainfall that falls on the western slopes of the mountains. The Conakry area has an average annual rainfall of 4300 mm, of which 4000 mm occurs during the wet season. In the interior, the average rainfall is 1,300 mm per year. High temperatures prevail throughout the year, rarely dropping below 15 ° С, and sometimes reaching 38 ° С. different agricultural crops. Export value is attributed to coffee, which is produced in Central and Upper Guinea, as well as bananas grown in the coastal lowlands and valleys near the railway. In a number of coastal areas, mangroves have been cleared for rice paddies.
Population. There are many ethnic groups living in Guinea, the largest of them are the peoples who speak the Mande (Malinke, Susu, etc.) and Fulbe languages. Fulbe accounts for 35% of the population, raspberries - 30% and susu - 13%. The rest: scrap (volumes), gerze, kisi, dialonke, etc. - in aggregate make up 22%. The local languages ​​are so different that even Guineans living in neighboring areas cannot always understand each other. The official language is French, but not all residents of the country speak it (especially in rural areas). Malinke live in the interior regions of the country, mainly in the Niger basin, susu (presumably the most ancient inhabitants of the savannah) - on the coast, including the strip between Conakry and Kindia. The main occupation of the Mandean-speaking peoples, who make up about half of the country's population, is agriculture. The militant Fulbe herders, who appeared in these places in the 16th century, inhabit mainly the central part of the country - the Futa-Jallon massif. A number of small ethnic groups are distributed along the coast, on the western slopes of the Fouta Jallon plateau and in Forest Guinea. The old enmity between the rural population, speaking the Mande languages, and the conquering herders of the Fulbe, which has now taken the form of a rivalry for political hegemony in the country, has not been eradicated. Approximately 90% of Guineans are Muslim. Most of the rest are adherents of local traditional beliefs and cults. Although the first Christian missions were established in what is now Guinea in the 19th century, the number of Christians is small.
Political system. For more than a quarter of a century, Sekou Toure ruled Guinea. He led the Democratic Party of Guinea (DPG) and led the country to independence in October 1958 and was its president until 1984. After the death of Sekou Toure, a group of military personnel led by Colonel Lansana Conte seized power in the country in April 1984. As a result, the constitution was suspended. the DPG, which ruled in a one-party system, and the mass public organizations operating under the auspices of this party were disbanded. The Military Committee for National Revival took over the government of the country. The first constitution of a free Guinea endowed the president with broad powers as the head of the country and head of government. The President was elected by general election for a term of 7 years. In 1972, the post of Prime Minister was approved, which was appointed by the President. The legislature, the National Assembly, had limited powers. All of its 210 deputies were elected from a single list of candidates. In accordance with an amendment to the constitution adopted in 1974, the DPG congress was proclaimed "the highest state body." The DPG sought to monopolize power in order to carry out political, social and economic modernization in the country at an accelerated pace. A well-organized and disciplined party, the cells of which were created in each village, was to become the conductor of the transformations. Membership in local party, trade union, women's and youth organizations was practically compulsory. The top of the pyramid of power was the highest executive body of the party - the Politburo of the DPG. Nevertheless, discontent was growing in the country, in response, the authorities carried out a series of purges in the state apparatus and the army. In 1978, after riots in which several provincial governors were killed, measures were taken to restore public confidence in the DPG and the government. Regular conferences began to be held for activists from local trade union, women's and youth organizations. The general elections began to elect provincial governors and heads of district party organizations, who were previously appointed by party bodies. In 1984, the military came to power, led by Colonel L. Conte. In 1990, a new constitution was adopted, providing for the creation of a multi-party system. In 1993 L. Conte was elected president of the country. In 1997, the armed forces of Guinea numbered approx. 9.7 thousand people. 9.2 thousand people served in the people's militia. The USSR and China provided great assistance in creating and equipping the Guinean army. In the field of foreign policy, independent Guinea has officially proclaimed a course of non-alignment. In 1958-1961 and from the mid-1960s to the mid-1970s, Guinea maintained closer relations with the USSR and other socialist countries than with neighboring African states and Western countries. Under the pretext of France's participation in a conspiracy against the Guinean government, Franco-Guinean diplomatic relations were severed in 1965. In the mid-1970s, Guinea strengthened relations with countries in Africa, the Middle East and the West. In 1976 diplomatic relations with France were restored. Guinea is a member of the United Nations, the Organization of African Unity (OAU), and the Economic Community of West African Countries (ECOWAS). A serious threat to the economic development and political stability of Guinea is posed, especially in the last decade of the 20th century, by the continuous flow of refugees from neighboring Liberia and Sierra Leone, where civil wars continue.
Economy. Guinea is rich in natural resources. The country has reserves of minerals, large areas of fertile land, rivers have great hydropower potential. Guinea has the largest bauxite deposits in the world. The mining industry brings almost all export earnings to the state budget. However, the main occupation of the population remains subsistence farming or small-scale commodity farming. Industry is underdeveloped, although its share in GDP is constantly growing. Many lucrative economic activities in Guinea are under state control. In the 15 years after independence, the government gradually eliminated private trade. Only state trade organizations functioned, and the peasants were obliged to sell their products through a network of state stores. After the riots that swept the country in 1979, the government was forced to lift the ban on private trade. Large industrial enterprises, especially those working for export, remained the property of the state.
Agriculture. About 80% of Guinea's population is employed in agriculture. The main crops are rice, cassava and corn, and they also form the basis of the diet of the Guineans. Farmers raise cattle, sheep, goats and poultry. The country does not provide itself with food and is forced to import rice, sugar and dairy products. In the early 1980s, only 1/7 of the land suitable for cultivation was used, labor productivity remained at a low level due to the backward material and technical base of agriculture and the lack of incentives for conducting a commercial economy. Guinea's main export crops - bananas, chocolate trees, oil palms, pineapples and peanuts - are grown primarily on plantations. After 1958, the collection and export of these crops decreased significantly due to the departure of European specialists and the loss of French markets. In the early 1980s, agricultural export production (excluding bananas) remained low.
Mining industry. Boke, Tuge, Fria, Kindia, Debele, etc. bauxite deposits, unique in terms of reserves and quality of raw materials, have been discovered in Guinea. Guinea contains 2/3 of the world's bauxite reserves (20 billion tons), and this country is the second largest supplier of raw materials for industry to the world market (more than 12 million tons per year). In 1993, the share of mining products in the value of exports was approx. 86%, but in 1994-1995 it dropped to 78%. Most of the mineral deposits are developed by joint ventures established by foreign consortia and the Government of Guinea, which usually owns 49% of the shares of such enterprises. In the early 1980s, there were three bauxite mining enterprises in the country - in Kindia (wholly owned by the state), Friia (owned by the Frigia consortium) and Boke (owned by the Bauxite de Guinet mixed company). In 1995, the total production of bauxite was 13.6 million tons. Since the second half of the 1980s, industrial gold production has been carried out - up to 1 ton per year, which provides 20% of the export value. The explored reserves of gold in Upper Guinea alone amount to 500 tons. Guinea has considerable reserves of diamonds - more than 100 million carats. Diamonds are mined in the south of the country (200 thousand carats per year). The explored reserves of high-quality iron ore in the Nimba mountains are approx. 12 billion tons (production has not yet started in 1997). Guinea also has reserves of uranium ore and copper.
Manufacturing industry. The industrial sector of the economy began to develop only after gaining independence. In the early 1980s, the industrial sector provided only 5% of the national income. In 1995, industry employed 0.6% of the working-age population. A large factory in Fria produces aluminum for export. Other industries are represented by food, textile, cement, and construction materials.
Transport. Of the 12.4 thousand km of roads, only 5 thousand km have a hard surface. Railways connect Conakry with Cancan and Fria, as well as Boke and Kamsar. In 1997, the Slovak company was awarded a contract for the modernization of the railway line between Conakry and Kankan. In 1996, the Iranian government announced its readiness to build a railway linking Conakry with the bauxite-rich Dabola Tuge region. The largest port of Conakry has a natural deep-water harbor. In 1973 a new port was built at Kamsar.
Trade and investment. During the 1960s and early 1970s, Guinea's trade balance was in deficit. However, since the mid-1970s, the trade surplus has been surplus, largely driven by increased revenues from bauxite mining. In 1991 the situation returned to its previous state. In 1993, the value of imports amounted to $ 731 million, and exports - $ 665 million. If in 1993-1995 Guinea's trade balance was deficit, then in 1996 it had a surplus of $ 111 million. revenues decreased from 65% in 1993 to 54% in 1995. The remaining exports are diamonds, gold, coffee, bananas, oil palm products, peanuts and pineapples. The main trading partners of Guinea are France, other states of Western Europe and the United States.
Finance and banking. In 1960 Guinea withdrew from the French franc zone and the West African Monetary Union. Today it has its own currency, which is issued by the Central Bank. In October 1972, Guinea replaced the franc with a new currency, the sili, but in 1985 the franc was reintroduced into monetary circulation. The Central Bank of Guinea controls financial institutions that engage in commercial banking activities. Guinea has huge external debt and virtually no foreign exchange reserves.
Public education. For children between the ages of 7 and 12, schooling is free and compulsory. In 1993, approx. 46% of children of the corresponding age attended primary schools and approx. 12% are average. Almost a third of the students were girls. Primary school focuses on the acquisition of agricultural skills, while secondary school focuses on technical training. There are polytechnic institutes in Cancan and Conakry. During the years of independence, the level of literacy of the population has significantly increased. If in 1965 only 10% of adult Guineans could read and write, then in 1995 their share increased to about 35%.
Story. In the 10-11th centuries. most of the northeast of modern Guinea was part of the state of Ghana. In the mines near Sigiri, part of Ghana's gold was probably mined, which in the cities of the Sahel was exchanged for salt and other goods from North Africa. In the 12th century. the empire of Ghana collapsed, and in the 13th century. in its place arose the empire of Mali, created by the people of Malinke. Islam spread widely among the nobility and townspeople. Until the beginning of the 16th century. Mali remained a powerful force in the region. Later, a significant part of the territory of Mali was captured by the Songhai empire of Gao in the east and the Fulbe state of Tekrur in the west. In the middle of the 17th century. Bambara of Segu overthrew the Malinka Emperor. By that time, the center of trade had moved to the coast, where there was intense competition between Portuguese, English and French slave traders. However, the slave trade was less common on this part of the West African coast than on the coasts of Nigeria, Dahomey and Senegal. After the official ban on the slave trade at the beginning of the 19th century. the coastal regions of present-day Guinea continued to attract traffickers in human goods, as the heavily indented coastline provided safe haven for slave ships that were hunted by British warships. In the middle of the 19th century. the slave trade was replaced by the trade in peanuts, palm oil, hides and rubber. European merchants settled in several trading posts and paid tribute to the leaders of local tribes. Attempts by the leaders to increase the size of the tribute ended with the fact that France in 1849 established its protectorate over the Boke region. At the beginning of the 18th century. on the territory of the Futa-Djallon plateau, a powerful state of Fulbe arose. Islam became his state religion, which then spread to the inhabitants of the coastal regions, many of whom paid tribute to the Fulba leaders. Further development of European trade and the creation of new strongholds on the coast in the middle of the 19th century. led to friction between the French and the leaders of the Fulbe, who in 1861 were persuaded to recognize the French protectorate over Boke. A few years earlier, Haj Omar, a militant religious reformer from eastern Senegal, had settled in Fouta Jallon. By 1848, his popularity among the local population had grown so much that it began to cause concern among the Fulbe leaders. Hajj Omar was forced to move to Dingirai, where he declared jihad (holy war) on the territory of Western Sudan, primarily the kingdoms of Segu and Masina. In 1864, in a battle with the soldiers of Masina, Haj Omar died, and his son Ahmadu took his place. In 1881, he entered into a treaty with the French, according to which the territory on the left bank of the Niger up to Timbuktu passed under the protectorate of France. Later, Ahmadu tried to abandon this treaty, but in 1891-1893 he was removed from power by the French. The longest and most decisive resistance to the French colonialists came from Samori Touré. Malinke by ethnicity, in 1879 he captured Kankan and created a Muslim state to the southeast of Sigiri. In 1887 and 1890, the French concluded treaties of friendship with Samori, but then denounced them, and hostilities resumed. In 1898, the French captured Samori Touré near Man in the west of modern Ivory Coast and sent him into exile, where he died. World War I. In 1895, Guinea was incorporated into French West Africa, and in 1904, after the British transferred the Isle of Los to the French, the boundaries of the colony were established. , they were mobilized for unpaid forced labor and military service.In 1946 France went on to create an elective territorial assembly in Guinea and gradually relaxed property and educational qualifications for voting.In 1957, the entire adult population of the colony could participate in the elections, the Government Council was created - territory a separate executive body composed of Guineans. The influence of the Democratic Party of Guinea (DPG), a massive political organization led by trade unionist Sekou Touré, grew rapidly. Thanks to the propaganda work of party activists in 1958, almost the entire population of Guinea spoke out in a referendum against the new French constitution and in favor of the country's withdrawal from the French Community. As a result, Guinea gained independence on October 2, 1958. The choice of the Guineans in favor of independence resulted in the loss of French economic aid and investment, a guaranteed market for export products and technical assistance from qualified specialists. The urgent need for economic and technical assistance forced the new government to turn to the USSR and China for help, which led to further isolation of Guinea from France and its allies. In 1965, Guinea severed diplomatic relations with France, accusing it of participating in a conspiracy to overthrow the Guinean government. By the end of the 1960s, Guinea had established relations with a number of Western states, which was largely due to the country's leadership's interest in foreign investment. However, the nationalization of trade and the agricultural sector turned into stagnation in all sectors of the Guinean economy, except mining. Although Sekou Toure himself retained his authority among the population, the government course became less and less popular, and many thousands of Guineans emigrated. In November 1970, Guinean émigrés, who were in opposition to the Sekou Touré regime, took part in the armed invasion of Guinea, which was organized with the support of Portugal. This action pursued two main goals: the overthrow of the government of Sekou Toure and the defeat of the bases of the partisans who fought for the liberation of Portuguese Guinea (now Guinea-Bissau). The rebels were quickly defeated. After a failed attempt at aggression, massive purges were carried out in the state apparatus and the armed forces of Guinea. In August 1977, a wave of riots swept through the cities, during which several provincial governors appointed by the DPG were killed. After these events, the policy of the Guinean leadership changed dramatically. In the late 1970s, political repression eased, the masses were able to participate in public life, and private trade was allowed. Guinea's relations with neighboring African states and Western countries have improved. In 1976 diplomatic relations with France were restored. Sekou Toure died on March 26, 1984, and already on April 3, 1984, a group of military personnel led by Colonel Lansana Conte carried out a bloodless coup. The military authorities disbanded the DPG and released all political prisoners. The economic reforms of the Conte regime did not bring positive results. In 1991, a new constitution was adopted, providing for the creation of a transitional government and then a multi-party republic. As a first step towards civilian rule, the activities of political parties were legalized. In 1993, the country's first multi-party elections were held in 1993, and Conte was elected president. Parliamentary elections in 1995, accompanied by numerous clashes and acts of violence, were won by the Party of Unity and Progress, led by Conte. In 1996 Conte appointed a new cabinet and introduced the post of prime minister, appointed by the president. Conte tasked the government with the task of more vigorously pursuing an economic reform program that would cut government spending, fight corruption and improve the efficiency of the tax system.

Collier's Encyclopedia. - Open Society. 2000 .

On a site with heavily indented banks. A narrow strip of lowland stretches along the coast, and the further into the continent, the higher the relief becomes, rising by uneven ledges, called the Futa Jallon plateau. The entire southeast of the country is occupied by the North Guinean Upland, where the Nimba Mountains and the country's highest peak are located. In the northeast, there is a plain in the basin of the upper reaches of the Niger River. In general, there are many rivers in the country, but they are all short, rapid and blocked by rapids, which is why they are navigable only at the mouth, and even then there are only a few.
Guinea is hot and humid all year round, so much so that even in the dry season, the humidity in the capital does not drop below 85%.
The vegetation of Guinea has changed markedly: for centuries, there has been deforestation for shipbuilding and simply for firewood. As a result, strongly thinned secondary forests remained in the south and in the center.
The north is the savannah zone, and on the coast are stretches of mangrove forests.
The fauna of Guinea is represented by large mammals (elephant, hippo, leopard, cheetah), many snakes live here, and the scourge of these places is insects that spread fever, malaria and "sleeping sickness". The latter circumstance was the reason that the development of these places by the European colonialists proceeded rather slowly.
So far, science does not have data on the ancient history of the country. It is known for sure that in the VIII-XI centuries. most of the northeast of modern Guinea was part of the state of Ghana. Even then, gold was mined here, which was exported to the north, to the states of the Sahel, where it was exchanged for salt and other goods from North Africa.
In the XII century. the empire of Ghana collapsed, in its place arose the empire of Mali, founded by the Malinke people. At the same time, in the XII century, Islam penetrated and took root in the territory of modern Guinea. In the XV-XVI centuries. began a massive penetration of Islam from the territory of present-day Mauritania and other countries of the Maghreb.
This stage in the history of present-day Guinea coincided with the appearance on its coast of Portuguese, English and French slave traders. They were attracted by the numerous bays and bays, where, even after the prohibition of slavery, slave ships hid from British military frigates.
The foundation of the current statehood of Guinea and its borders was laid by the Fulbe people, at the beginning of the 18th century. who created on the territory of the Futa-Jallon plateau (where they still live today) a strong Islamic state of the same name.
In the middle of the XIX century. The slave trade began to decline, and Europeans began to trade with local tribes, purchasing peanuts, malaguetta peppers, palm oil, hides of wild animals and rubber. Basically, these were the French, who called this place the Pepper Coast. First, they built forts for their own defense, then they refused to pay tribute to the kings of the local tribes, and when they took up arms, in 1849 France proclaimed the whole land its protectorate, and then a colony within French West Africa.
Only in 1958, the popular resistance forces were able to hold a referendum in Guinea for the independence of the country, which was proclaimed in the same year.
The Republic of Guinea is located on the West African coast of the Atlantic Ocean; deep river valleys and hilly low-mountain ranges make Guinea look like a mountainous country. The heights rise smoothly from the coastal lowlands to the plateau in the interior of the country with an altitude of over one and a half kilometers.
Mandé and Fulbe are two peoples that make up the majority of the country's population. The relationship between them is far from simple, and the reasons for this lie in the way of life and history of both peoples.
The majority of Guinea's population is made up of three peoples: the Fulbe (which partially retained their nomadic lifestyle), the Malinke (Mandinka) and the Susu. Fulbe pastoralists live mainly in the central part of the country, malinka settled in inland regions, mainly in the Niger basin, and susu - on the Atlantic coast. The interethnic contradictions between the rural population, speaking the Mande languages, and the conquering herders of the Fulbe have not been completely eliminated. Thanks to the efforts of international organizations, they abandoned armed conflicts and are now fighting for political power in the country.
Communities of a few descendants of French settlers have survived in the cities. The legacy of colonial times is French, which has become the language of interethnic communication for the three main peoples of the country, although a relatively small part of the population speaks it. The country is pursuing a policy of supporting the study of national languages ​​(there are officially eight of them), for which a writing system based on the Latin alphabet has even been created.
The vast majority of the population is Muslim, but the traditions of animism and belief in ancestral spirits are very strong and widespread even in cities.
Guinea is the world center for the extraction of bauxite (the country has the largest reserves of bauxite in the world); large deposits of diamonds, iron ore and other metals have been found here. However, all this is an export commodity, and the country itself, according to all indicators, is one of the poorest in the world.
Most of the local working-age population is employed in agriculture, the products of which are consumed right there in the country. Therefore, the bulk of the population is concentrated in the area of ​​the Futa-Djallon plateau, where cattle, sheep and goats are grazed in the mountain meadows of Fulbe, and various agricultural crops are grown in the fertile valleys.
Guinea's economy is facing severe hardships caused by barbaric deforestation, lack of drinking water, the spread of the desert from north to south, significant overfishing and the devastating environmental impact of mining. The country's development is also hampered by political instability and the spread of epidemic diseases. The measures taken by the government to solve these problems have not yet given the desired effect.
The country's capital, Conakry, is a large port on the Atlantic coast. It has an unusual location: it is located on the Calum Peninsula and the island of Tombo (Tolebo), connected by a dam to the mainland, and the island is the central area of ​​the city. The main economic center of the country, most of the industrial enterprises are concentrated here.
Conakry is a relatively young city; modern buildings appeared here only in the 1960s. The main attraction of the city is the Great (Great) Mosque, one of the largest in West Africa, where the burials of the national heroes Samori (circa 1830-1900), Sekou Toure (1922-1984) and Alpha Mo Labe (1850s- 1912). A particularly revered place throughout the country is the Monument to the Victims installed in the city on November 22, 1970, when the Portuguese army occupied Conakry.
The political situation in the country remains unstable, tribal leaders divide power by creating their own political parties, the military arrange coups, and mass strikes and demonstrations of the population periodically sweep across the country.

general information

Capital: Conakry - 1,886,000 (2014).

Large cities: Kankan - 472,112 people. (2014), Nzerekore - 280 256 people. (2012), Kindia - 181,126 people. (2008), Farana - 119 159 people. (2013), Labe - 107 695 people. (2007), Mom - 88,203 people. (2013), Boke - 81,116 people. (2007).

Languages: French (official), national (Fula, Mandinka, Susu, Baga, Basari).
Ethnic composition: Fulbe - 40%, Malinka - 26%, Susu - 11%, others - 23%, more than 20 ethnic groups in total (2013).
Religions: Islam - 85%, Christianity (Catholicism, evangelism) - 8%, animism - 7% (2013).
Currency unit: Guinean franc.
Major rivers: the sources of the Niger and Gambia, as well as Bafing, Kogon, Konkure, Tomine, Fatala, Forekarya.

Airport: Gbessia International Airport (Conakry).

Neighboring countries and waters: in the north-west - Guinea-Bissau, in the north - Senegal, in the north and north-east - Mali, in the east - Cote d'Ivoire, in the south - Liberia and Sierra Leone, in the west - the Atlantic Ocean.

Numbers

Population: 11,474,383 (2014).
Population density: 46.7 people / km 2.
Employed in agriculture: 76% (2014 est.)

Below the poverty line: 47% (2006 est.)
Length of land border: 4046 km

Length of coastline: 320 km

Highest point: Mount Richard-Molar (Nimba Mountains, 1752 m).

Climate and weather

Seasons: monsoons - June-November, dry - December-May.
Average annual temperature: on the coast + 27 ° С, in the center (Futa-Jallon plateau) + 20 ° С, in upper Guinea + 21 ° С.

Average annual rainfall: Atlantic coast - 4300 mm, hinterland - 1300 mm.

Relative humidity: 80-85%.
Dusty wind harmatan(West African trade wind).

Economy

GDP: $ 15.31 billion (2014), per capita - $ 1300 (2014).
Minerals: bauxite, diamonds, iron, uranium, cobalt, manganese, copper, nickel, pyrite, platinum, lead, titanium, chromium, zinc, rock salt, granite, graphite, limestone.
Industry: metalworking, food (canning), chemical, textile, woodworking, cement.
Seaports: Conakry, Kamsar, Benti.

Agriculture: crop production (rice, corn, millet, sorghum, cassava, peanuts, bananas, coffee, pineapples, apples, citrus fruits, strawberries, mango, papaya, avocado, guayava, cinchona), animal husbandry (semi-nomadic, small ruminants).

Sea fishing(mullet, mackerel, stingray, sardinella).

Traditional Crafts: wood carving (red and black) and bone, straw weaving (bags, fans, mats), weaving, ceramics, leather, metal and stone products, raffia fiber weaving, musical instrument making.

Service sector: travel, transport, trade.

sights

Curious facts

■ The Ile de Los Archipelago are six islands off the Atlantic coast of Guinea. The islands began to be populated only at the beginning of the 20th century. At first, the British moved here, and then, in exchange for abandoning fishing in Newfoundland and Labrador, the French moved here.

Guinea is one of the poorest countries in Africa. And, therefore, tourism is very poorly developed here. Small tourists rarely visit this country, since there are practically no attractions in the country. The high cost and uncivilized attitude to nature scares off vacationers. The only entertainment that visiting tourists can watch is Guinean dances. Tourists can visit the capital of Guinea - Conakry and see with their own eyes all the poverty and squalor of this country. Although the bowels of this African country are rich in diamonds, gold and aluminum ores. Despite the poverty, tourists can taste one of the best coffee in the world.

Guinea was previously a French colony. Guinea is divided into several geographic regions. Lower Guinea is a plain, Central Guinea is a mountain plateau, Upper Guinea is a savanna with small hills, the Nimba ridge is in Mountain Guinea. The African rivers Milo and Niger begin in this country. Tourists wishing to visit Guinea need to take into account the very hot subequatorial climate, where rains alternate with drought. Savannahs, mangrove forests, impenetrable jungles will open for tourists on the ocean coast. The fauna of the animal world is very diverse. Can be seen in the natural environment of antelopes, hippos, parrots and other exotic animals.

Guinea population

Guinea has an estimated population of about 9.8 million. Guineans live on average - 56 years. Most of the population is not literate. The state language is French. National languages ​​are 8 local languages ​​- they are Fulfide, Susu, Kisi, Loma, Kpele, Baga, Kona and Malinke. Thirty percent of the country's population lives in cities. The ethnic composition of the population of Guinea consists of three nationalities - Fulbe, Malinke and Susu. The country is dominated by Islam of the Sunni branch; it makes up about 85 percent of the population and only 8 percent are Christians, most of the population are supporters of their ancient faith and worship. In the last century, until about the 70s, numerous communities of foreigners were located in Guinea - these are about 40 thousand migrants from Nigeria, engaged in hard labor in cocoa groves in Bioko and in logging in Mbini. About 7 thousand Europeans are in Guinea - they are businessmen, government officials and missionaries. The Spanish diaspora also lives in Guinea, numbering about four thousand people. Most of the population of Guinea is of the Negroid race. The country is home to about 30 nationalities

Tourists will be interested in visiting the capital of Guinea. Since 1958, Conakry has been the capital of Guinea. The capital is located on the picturesque island of Tombaugh, which is washed by the Atlantic Ocean. Conakry is a major port. The population of the capital is about seven hundred thousand inhabitants, with the surrounding areas. The city is divided into 5 districts: Matoto, Matam, Dikin, Ratoma and Kalum.

The capital of Guinea is the main economic center of the country. It contains the lion's share of the entire Guinean industry - these are mainly processing industries. An important port for all foreign trade is the port through which Guinea exports: natural resources and agricultural products. There is a Polytechnic Institute in Conakry, built with the participation of the Soviet Union. Also, tourists can visit the National Museum, and in the Diksin area admire the beauty of the Botanical Garden, which was laid out back in 1884. The city is located on the picturesque coast of the Atlantic Ocean, tourists can relax in hotels and enjoy the warm waters of the ocean. By modern standards, Conakry is a small, compact city. However, it is very expensive. The high cost, first of all, in relation to visiting tourists.

History of Guinea

Back in the 10-11 centuries, the territory of Guinea belonged to another state - Ghana. Around the 13th century, after the collapse of Ghana, the state of Mali was formed. At the same time, the religion of Islam was established among the population of the country, and up to the 16th century. Mali was the strongest in this region of Africa. However, it was soon captured by another Gao empire and a new country of Tekrur was created, located in the western direction. In the 17th century. the Bambara people overthrow the Malinke emperor. At this time, all trade was on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, where the French, Portuguese, and English engaged in the slave trade competed among themselves. On the territory of modern Guinea, the slave trade was not as important as on the coast of Senegal, Nigeria and Dahomey. In the 19th century, after the prohibition of the slave trade, it was replaced by trade: rubber, palm oil, peanuts and skins. In 1881, the territory of what is now Guinea becomes a French colony. The uprisings of the people of Guinea continued until the First World War. During the colonial rule of France, the people of Guinea did not have any rights and freedoms. and it was only in 1958 that Guinea gained independence. In 1991, Guinea adopted a new constitution. And the state begins to implement a series of reforms to strengthen the economic and political independence of the country.

State structure of Guinea

Guinea has a republican system. The head of the country is the president, who is elected by the people by direct vote for 5 years. The President can be elected for a second term. The President is the supreme commander-in-chief of all the armed forces of the republic. The President leads the government, it consists of the Prime Minister and twenty-two ministers. The National Assembly is elected for a five-year term and consists of 114 deputies. Local community councils, which are re-elected every 4 years. The country's judicial system is represented by the Supreme Court, whose judges are appointed for life. All other judges are appointed by the President of the country. Local executive power is exercised by the prefects of administrative centers and districts and is also appointed by the president of the republic. Public organizations - trade unions of workers do not have much influence on internal politics. Domestic policy is aimed at stabilizing society and improving the economy, as well as the security of its sovereignty. However, the presence of corruption in state institutions, crime, unemployment and other factors of the crisis have a negative effect on social tension.

Guinea transport

For the information of tourists, the main mode of transport in Guinea is road transport. There is no need to ask for the brand of gasoline at gas stations, for Guineans there is always one brand. The country has 6825 km. highways of republican significance, of which 2 thousand kilometers are hard-surfaced. Most roads are very difficult to pass during the rainy season. Two thousand metal and concrete bridges have been built, there are 29 crossings. The car park has 120 thousand cars. There are taxis in the cities. Almost all of them are imported. The railway is poorly developed, which is provided by one line of Kankan-Conakry; its length is 662 kilometers, and then it was built in the last century and needs to be modernized. There are railway lines for the delivery of alumina and bauxite to the ports of Komsar and Conakry. Airplane is one of the most preferred modes of transportation, although it is the most expensive. There is only one Conakria international airport in the country, which can receive up to 350 thousand passengers a year. Guinea has five more paved and ten unpaved airfields. The economy of the country mainly uses small aircraft.

Guinea landmarks

Tourists visiting Guinea can admire the contrasts of nature in a small area. The impenetrable jungle in the south and the dry valleys of the north will allow tourists to enjoy the pristine African nature. The beautiful Fouta Jallon highlands and stunning sea views will delight travelers.

You need to visit the city of Kankan - the center of the political and spiritual culture of the Malinke people. In the Middle Ages, when the Mali Empire existed on the territory of Guinea, the city of Kankan was erected.

There are a lot of historical monuments in the city and in order to see them well, tourists will need a local guide. The attention of tourists will be attracted by the beautifully ornamented Great Mosque and the President's Palace on the picturesque Milo River. In Conakry, the capital of Guinea, there is the National Museum, which houses a huge collection of masks, national musical instruments and African figurines. The building itself was built in the style of the French Louvre. For ballet lovers, a large People's Palace has been built in the north of the Roux du Niger, where numerous festive events are held. Tourists wishing to see very exotic animals should visit the foot of Mount Nimba, where they will see the only toad in the world breastfeeding its children.

Natural plants in Guinea are varied and abundant. Despite the fact that the soil here is poor, and after fires and logging, the plants feel great. Human-induced plant degradation is increasingly reflected in tropical dry forests, forest savannas and secondary shrouds. There are very few virgin real rainforests left, they are found only along the river banks and in the mountains. Guinean vegetation is a botanical garden for tourists from northern countries. Even the capital of Guinea looks like him.

The coast of Guinea is entirely covered with mangroves, which are mercilessly cut down by man, charcoal is made from trees, and rice is grown on the cleared areas. On the shore there are coconut and banana palms, raffia palms, oil palms.

You can also see giant trees up to 50 meters high in tropical forests. There are several thousand plant species in Guinea.

The fauna of the country is provided by large animals such as elephants and hippos. In Northern Guinea, herds of antelope, pygmy bongos and gibs can still be seen. The rainforests of Guinea are home to cheetahs, African panthers, chimpanzees and numerous herds of baboons that destroy agricultural crops.

Minerals of Guinea

The bowels of Guinea are very rich in minerals. On its territory there are bauxite deposits of about 25 billion tons, which is one third of the world's reserves of this raw material. Guinea is the second largest exporter of ore for aluminum production. Bauxite is mainly mined in open pit by three companies. The largest bauxite mining complex is located near the town of Boke. This enterprise belongs to Guinea and the HALCO company and produces 14 mil. tons of ore per year. The Guinean government is attracting foreign capital to this industry. In the bowels of the Republic of Guinea, there are deposits of diamonds and gold. Together with the Russian company International Diamond Group, Guinea is conducting geological surveys to identify placers of diamonds. Guinea with a Russian company is mastering the latest technologies and applying them to us in practice. The deposits of gold in Guinea exceed the reserves of gold in Europe, and among the countries of Africa, it occupies a leading position in its reserves. Gold is mainly mined by foreign companies. Most of the mines are controlled by the state, using the old method of gold mining. Guinea imports about 15 tons of this precious metal every year.

Approximately 80% of the total population of Guinea works in agriculture. The main crops grown are: corn, rice and cassava are the staple food of the Guinean population. Most of the villagers are engaged in breeding goats, sheep, poultry and cattle. However, there is a food shortage in the country and it is forced to purchase sugar, dairy products and rice. Cultivation of agricultural land is at a very low level due to a lack of funds to improve advanced farming technologies. Guinea exports: pineapples, bananas, chocolate tree, oil palm and peanuts. Due to the loss of French markets and the departure of specialists from Europe - since 1958, the export of these crops has decreased. Guinea has been supplying bananas to the world market since the 1980s. One of the main products exported to the world market is Guinean coffee, which is considered one of the best in the world. Dry-harvested coffee beans are not roasted, although they are not aromatic, they are very strong and have a bitter-sour taste. Robusta is one of the best Guinean coffees. Guinean coffee has 7 varieties: prima, extra prima, superior, limit, suli, kuran, grazhe shua.

Nature reserves of Guinea

On the border of Cote d'Ivoire and Leberia, there is a National Park with an area of ​​13 thousand hectares. Scientists call it "botanical garden". On the territory of which there are more than 2 thousand different plants, many of which are very rare. Biologists have found here more than 200 unknown animals and 500 species of unknown insects, the habitat of which is only in this National Park. Tourists can see dwarf duikers, spotted hyena, viviparous toad. The park has never been inhabited by people, but the influx of population has increased recently due to refugees from Liberia. This threatens the reserve. Tourist trips, only in organized groups and under the supervision of the reserve staff. Scientists from all over the world are constantly working in the reserve. In Guinea, there is the Upper Niger Nature Reserve, its territory is six thousand square kilometers of shrouds and forests. There are preserved relict dry forests, many birds and mammals, including lions, mongooses, African elephants, giant lizards - which are the pride of the reserve's employees. One of the amazing wonders of the park is the Niger River itself, which is 4 thousand 180 kilometers long. The river is home to both exotic and freshwater fish such as carp, crucian carp.

Guinea resorts

Tourists can visit the mountain climate resort in Guinea and the D'Asyuel health center, which uses modern methods of recovery. Mountain air and beautiful nature will bring you great pleasure.

One of the cities of Guinea, which tourists should definitely visit, is Labe, which has small markets where you can buy exotic African souvenirs, and plunge into the leisurely life and life of the Fula people living in this city.

The resort town of Farana, located 420 kilometers from Conakry, is personally controlled by the President of the country. Farana has very good restaurants with excellent food. The attraction of this city is the local mosque and villas built in the classical and Victorian style. On Mondays, traders and local peasants hold a huge fair. Tourist routes almost all go from this city to Bafara Falls and Fuyama Rapids. It should be noted that such cities as Kankan, Nzerekore, Cape Verga, where there are the best beaches in the country, also deserve the attention of tourists. Much attention must be paid to the Guinean markets, where you can buy everything and not very expensively, since all markets are transshipment bases for products from neighboring countries.

Guinea Economy

The Republic of Guinea is mainly an agricultural country. Although she also has a mining industry - copper, bauxite, iron ore, gold, diamonds. The gross national product of the state consists of 24% agriculture, 31% mining and 45% services. Guinea is still economically dependent on aid from other countries. It still imports petroleum products, cars and food. Bananas, coffee, aluminum and diamonds are exported from the country. Guinea trades with the countries of Europe and America. Guinea generates 770 million kWh of its own electricity. in year. Harvested 5.5 million cubic meters of timber, banning the export of untreated timber abroad. The republic is developing its fishing fleet, although fish production is only slightly more than 60 thousand tons per year. Guinea is restructuring its economy together with the International Monetary Fund and this is yielding results. Private business has become more active in all spheres of the economy. Administrative reforms have been outlined in the country. A course has been adopted to fight corruption. But life for indigenous Guineans is still very difficult due to high prices for food and services.

Medicine in Guinea

The Republic of Guinea is a state where poverty is very high, which is why there are problems with the provision of qualified medical care. Since the majority of the population of Guinea lives in villages and towns, it is not always possible for people to get to a medical facility and pay for treatment. There is a shortage of medical supplies and materials in the country, so the population cannot receive qualified medical care. The main disease in the country is malaria, which accounts for 30% of hospital admissions. The lack of funds for the necessary medicines leads to outbreaks of the disease. The epidemiological situation in the country is complicated by thousands of refugees from neighboring countries of Sierra Leone and Liberia. With the help of international medical organizations, voluntary counseling and testing for HIV / AIDS is carried out here. Assistance is provided with medicines and antiviral drugs. International medical organizations, together with the Ministry of Health, helped to eliminate the cholera epidemic in Conakry and Boka, and 3 thousand patients were helped. Within three weeks, about 370 thousand people were vaccinated against yellow fever.

Education in Guinea

Even during the time when Guinea was a colony of France, schools in the country were mostly Muslim, where the study was based on Islam. The cities of Tubu and Kankan were centers of Muslim education as early as the 17th century. It was only in the 19th century that schools of the European type appeared in Christian missions. Children from the age of seven began to study and in 6 years received primary education. To get a secondary education, it was necessary to study from the age of 13, in two stages: four years in college and three years in a lyceum. The Republic of Guinea ranks last in terms of girls' education in school (according to UNESCO). Higher education in the country is represented by two

universities in the cities of Cancan and Conakry; and institutes in the city of Farana and Boké. The country has an institute for scientific research and the Guinean Pasteur Institute. Until 2000, about 35.9% of the total population were literate in the country. The majority of Guineans cannot receive a normal education due to poverty. Only a small percentage of the population (rich people) can afford to get an education abroad. Thanks to UNESK, Guinea is undergoing programs to improve the quality of education and its accessibility for all sectors of society.

The Republic of Guinea has a military budget of about $ 52 million a year. The number of the armed forces is 9 thousand 700 people, the gendarmerie is one thousand people and two thousand six hundred people are paramilitary formations, the guard of the republic has one thousand six hundred people. The term of service of a soldier is 24 months for conscription. The armed forces of the republic consist of 9 battalions: one tank, one special purpose, one engineer, commando and five infantry. In service there are two anti-aircraft and artillery battalions. The tank park consists of 53 tanks: T-34, PT-76, T-54, 40 armored personnel carriers and 27 armored personnel carriers, all this equipment was supplied to the country by the Soviet Union in the 60s - 70s. The Air Force of the republic has 800 people in service with aircraft: four MiG-17F, four MiG-15 UTI, four MiG-21, and one MI-8 helicopter. The army in Guinea seized power, accusing the ousted government of corruption and inability to carry out reforms in the country. The military coup was carried out by the country's army leadership under the slogan of protecting the country's territorial integrity. As always, the people supported the Buchists.

To hunt animals in Guinea, you must have a good large-caliber rifle and be a physically strong and agile person with a good reaction, since you need to shoot because of the dense thickets and from a distance of 30-50 meters. For a successful hunt for the Red Forest Pig or the Giant Forest Pig in the hunting grounds, they use top dressing and the sun, which even buffaloes can do. This type of hunting is used from a specially equipped tower, as well as from the approach. The most reliable shotgun with optics can be rented right at the hunter's camp. One of the best hunting areas is the Sabuya area - there are a lot of Sing Sing waterbuck, ducer antelope, forest pigs and forest buffaloes. This area has a developed system of roads, which contributes to a successful hunt. In northwest Guinea, there is the Cumbia region, where animals such as the warthog, palm marten, hippopotamus, bush buffalo and lions are found. Hunting is carried out only by pursuing animals and only by two hunters at a time. If you are looking for hippopotamus hunting, then the Boke Sangaredi area is for you.

If you are a fisherman, then you will not find a better place for fishing than the Bizhagi archipelago for fishing.

Here you can apply a variety of technical types of coastal tropical fish fishing. Spinning is mainly used for fishing. A fisherman can catch barracuda, stingray, shark, red carp, karkang. Guinea is a fishing paradise.

Guinea architecture

Guineans mainly build traditional dwellings - round huts with a diameter of 6-10 meters and covered with thatch in the form of a cone-shaped roof. In different parts of the country, huts are built from different materials. A mixture of clay and straw, stakes and bamboo mats are used in the construction of the huts. In cities, houses are built mainly with rectangular flat roofs and terraces. The construction of mosques is a separate type of architecture. Modern cities are built up with multi-storey buildings made of reinforced concrete and bricks, the construction and design of which was assisted by the Soviet Union. The old houses were built in the French and Portuguese style, since Guinea was a colony of these countries. In large cities and the capital, villas are built immersed in tropical greenery. Most of the country's population still lives in poverty-stricken conditions, without any basic amenities. Huts are built in the village around the center, which is not a large area. In recent years, foreign companies have been constructing ultra-modern buildings from glass and concrete in cities. These are mainly offices of large companies and corporations, banks and other institutions of foreign investors. The share of the public sector in construction is very insignificant.

Guinea Fine Arts and Crafts

Objects of art of the people living in the Republic of Guinea, such as the sculpture of the Baga people and darker, helmet-shaped African halo masks, polychrome gang masks are widely represented in private collections and in other museums around the world, such as the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, Russia. Art began to emerge on a professional basis only after the country gained independence. National artists such as Matinez Sirena, M.B. Kossa, M. Conde and many others who studied painting in the Soviet Union. In Guinea, arts and crafts are well developed, these are mainly ivory and wood carving, jewelry, pottery, metal work (chasing), making a variety of baskets, mats, finishing leather and leather goods. All of this can be purchased in the markets from the merchants in the city. Products made of gold and silver are real works of art, as they are made with filigree and gracefulness. Tourists visiting this country never leave without buying a souvenir made by local artisans as a keepsake. Women's jewelry made of leather and gold is very beautiful.

Literature of Guinea

Guinea's literature is based on the oral creativity (fairy tales, proverbs, songs and myths) of the people. Folklore traditions are preserved thanks to the griots (wandering actors-storytellers). Even before the colonization of the country, writing was in the distant of the Fulbe people (a poem called "qasidy"). All modern Guinean literature is written in French. The founder of Guinean national literature is the writer Kamara Lei. Other writers are also known - Emil Sise, Sasien, Monembo, William Sasein. The works of many Guinean writers and poets have been published in France. In the country itself, the illiterate population hardly knows their writers. The most famous poets of Guinea are Rai Otra, Lunsaini Kaba and Nene Khali. Guinea's writers describe in their works the hard life of the common people and their desire for independence and national unity. In the tales of the peoples inhabiting Guinea, the main characters are animals, which are endowed with human traits and vices. But good always triumphs over evil and deceit. Guinean literature has an impact on neighboring countries and contributes to the humanitarian education of the peoples of Africa.

Guinea

(Guinee), Guinean People's Revolutionary Republic (Republique Populaire et Revolutionnaire de Guinee), - a state in the West. Africa. Borders on C. with Senegal, on C. and C.-B. from Mali, to B. from the Ivory Coast, to the south from Liberia, to the south-west. co Sierra Leone, in the northwest. c Guinea-Bissau. Ha Z. is washed by Atlantich. OK. Pl. 245.8 thousand km 2. Hac. 6.4 million people (1980,). Divided into 29 administrative districts. The capital is Conakry. Office language - French. The monetary unit is strength. G. is a member of the Organization of Afr. Unity (OAE), is a member of Economics. communities of West African countries (1975).
General characteristics of the farm. The GDP in Georgia is $ 800 million (at current prices, 1978). In its structure per share c. x-va accounts for 21%, industry 25% (including mining 18%). In the structure of fuel and energy. balance sheet share of oil 98%, hydropower 2% (1979). The total length of highways is 30.0 thousand km, the length of railways. d. 1.1 thousand km (1980). Large sea ports - Konakri, Kamsar. O. A. Lytkina.
Nature. In the relief of Georgia, the following are distinguished: the Atlantic (height up to 70 m), the stepped plateau Futa Djallon (height 150-1300 m, maximum - 1538 m), North Guinean (cp. Height approx. 800 m, maximum - 1752 m ) and the plains of the Upper Neger (height 300-400 m). The climate is equatorial-monsoon, hot, summer-humid. Cp. temp-pa of the warmest month (March or April) 27-30 ° C, the coldest (August) 24-26 ° C. Annual precipitation on the coast of St. 4000 mm, in other areas 1200-1500 mm. Mostly, the rivers: Neger, Kogon, Nunez, Fatala, Konkure (the mouths of some rivers are navigable). Dominated by forest savannah, southern. The North Guinean Upland is covered with humid equatorial dense forests (approx. 4% of the territory), in the west of the country - mangroves.
Geological structure. G. is located in the west of the African Platform. Ha B., Y.-B. and J.-Z. stands out Leono-Liberian, in the center. parts of the country - south. the Toudenny syneclises and the Rockel trough; in the west, West Guinean. The Leono-Liberian shield is composed of Archean formations (gneisses, quartzites, metamorphosed ultrabasic rocks, granites) and lower. Proterozoic (, gneisses, quartzites, calcareous rocks, graywackes, volcanics and granites breaking through them). Large metamorphogenic deposits of iron ore are connected with ferruginous quartzites of the Archean. ores. South the side of the Taudenni syneclise is formed by gently lying Proterozoic carbonate-terrigenous strata, to which limestone deposits are confined. The Rockel deflection is made by Proterozoic, crumpled in carbonate-terrigenous sediments and effusive rocks; there are metamorphic. rocks (shale, quartzite), among which there are hematite ores; dolerites are found. The West Guinean syneclise is composed of gently sloping Ordovician, Silurian and Devonian rocks (sandstones, siltstones, mudstones). Among the Ordovician sandstones, manifestations of manganese are localized, in the Devonian and Silurian rocks - small deposits of sedimentary micro-oolitic rocks. ores. Cenozoic (, loams, and pebbles) are developed on the Atlantich. coast (sea. terraces, beaches, spits) and along the valleys are numerous. rivers. K coastal sea. formations are confined to small zircon, ilmenite, rutile, monazite, kaolin deposits, manifestations of lignites and phosphorites, to the alluvium of river terraces - placers of gold and diamonds. The bedrock (vein) deposits of gold are associated with the Early Proterozoic magmatism, with the Late Mesozoic - kimberlite dikes and pipes, some from the industrial. content of diamonds. Dunites, gabbronorites, and dolerites of the Mesozoic, less often Paleozoic ages, which form massifs, sills and dikes, are widely developed. Meso-Cenozoic weathering with large deposits of bauxite, iron ore are widespread everywhere. ores, as well as nickel and chromium ores. C. C. Prokofiev.
Hydrogeology. Groundwater on the territory. G. have a limited distribution. Main groundwater reserves are associated with the alluvium of the valleys of large pp. Neger, Tomine and others (specific well rates 1-2 l / s, sometimes up to 4 l / s) or with fractured rocks lower. parts of weathering crusts in low relief areas (0.1-1.5 l / s). In bedrocks in the main. insignificant, with the exception of Ordovician sandstones, penetrated by wells with specific flow rates of 6-7 l / s. Groundwater is ultra-fresh, with mineralization up to 0.3 g / l, hydrocarbonate, mixed in cationic composition. Groundwater is unloaded only during wet seasons. During dry periods, river flows are sharply reduced, most of the sources disappear, which creates difficulties in water supply. P. I. Tkachenko.
Mineral resources. G. is rich in bauxite and iron. ores (Table 1).

There are small deposits of gold, diamonds, chromium, nickel, ilmenite, zircon, rutile, monazite, beryl, limestone and graphite shale ores.
Main deposit railway pyd, associated with Archean ferruginous quartzites, are concentrated in the p-nes of the Namba ridges (reserves of 2 billion tons, iron content 60%) and Simandu (7 billion tons, 60%). B zap. parts G. small deposits went. (hematite) ores are known to the south of the city of Forekarya and in the basin. p. Tomine (microolithic ores). Ha Peninsula Kalum deposit railway ores (explored reserves of 1476 million tons, Fe 51.5%) are confined to the laterite weathering crust for rocks of ultrabasic and basic compositions; there are also small deposits of nickel and chromium ores.
In terms of bauxite reserves, Georgia occupies 1st place among the industrially developed capitalist cities. and developing countries (approx. 40% of reserves, 1980). The largest deposits are concentrated in the center. and app. parts of the country in bauxite-bearing regions: Boke-Gaval (main deposit: Sintiuru, explored reserves of 501 million tons, Al 2 O 3 content 46.6%; Dian-Dian, 300 million tons, over 40% ; Dubula-Tagurat, 431 million tons, 40%); Fria Sodiore (Manga, 507 Mt, 41.3%; Sodiore, 268 Mt, 49.6%); Dongel Sigon (Ope-Lithi, 250 million tons, 47%); Bantiniel (Kasagi, 154 Mt, 46.3%); Dabola (Tekulu-Deyal, 217 million tons, 40-45%); Tuge (Pantiolo, 390 Mt, 40-45%; Kokete, 391 Mt, 40-45%); Debele - Kindia (Debele, 44.4 million tons, over 40%). There are also known bauxite deposits in B. countries, near xp. Heandan Banje. By genesis, they are subdivided into laterite and polygenic (laterite-sedimentary); main ore - gibbsite.
Main reserves of gold, confined to quartz veins, are explored in the east. parts of G. and are small (deposits; Tenkiso, reserves 24 t, Au content 0.4 g / m 3; Sigirini-Ko, 1 t, 17.4 g / m 3). M-niya diamonds are located in the south-B of the country in the basins p. Baule, Macona, Diani. They are confined to kimberlite pipes (content 0.6-4.5 ct / m 3), dikes and small alluvial placers (0.2-4.8 ct / m 3). The deposits of ilmenite, zircon, rutile and monazite (the Verga deposit, etc.) are concentrated along the ocean coast in the sediments of the first sea. terraces, pestilence braids and beaches. Depth width placers 250-300 m, length approx. 1.5 km. Cp. the total content of valuable minerals is 40-60 kg / m 3. Stocks dep. placers are also estimated at 20-76 thousand tons (for example, at the Verga deposit, the total reserves of ilmenite are 60 thousand tons, zircon 10 thousand tons, rutile 5 thousand tons). There are small deposits (Kurunda, Amaraya, Lebeker) of limestones, as well as beryl and kaolin (near the city of Kaya), graphite shales (near the village of Lola). C. C. Prokofiev.
Mining. General characteristics a. Mining industry - one of the leading industries, which accounts for 60% of those employed in the industry, 87% of the gross volume of industrial. products. (The location of the main objects of the mining industry is shown on the map.) industry of G. - extraction of bauxite (Table 2).




There are 3 bauxite products in the country. firms: "Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinee" (49% of the shares are owned by the state), the mixed company "Friguia" (49% of the shares are owned by the state), "Office des Bauxites de Kindia" (wholly owned by the state). Mining products the industry provides 97% of the export value. Country in main. exports bauxite (over 10 million tons, of which 2.9 million tons to the USA, 0.85 million tons to Canada, 4.1 million tons to socialist countries) and (0.6 million tons), imports petroleum products (283 thousand tons), a small amount of coal, builds. materials (1978). Ch. Germany's trading partners are the EEC countries, the USA, and the CCCP. O. A. Lytkina, C. C. Prokofiev.
Boxing industry. In the production of bauxite, Georgia is in second place (17%); in terms of their exports, it is in first place (30%) among the industrially developed capitalist countries. and developing countries (1979). The export of bauxite in 1978 compared to 1970 (811 thousand tons) increased more than 10 times (10.3 million tons). Bauxite deposits are mined by the open-cut method using drilling and blasting operations. The form of the deposits is stratal (layers 6-12 m), the thickness of the overburden in cp. 0.5 m. In the Fria Sodiore area (Kimbo deposit) development has been underway since 1959. Production. the power of the quarry of St. 2 million tons of ore per year. Refining since 1960 - at the alumina plant in Fria, 85-90% alumina (1978), St. 600 thousand tons (1980). Export by rail (length 145 km) and through the port of Konakry. The deposit in Sangaredi in the Boke Gaval region has been developed since 1973. Manufacturing. open pit capacity 9 million tons. d. (length 138 km) is supplied to the enrichment plant. factory to the port of Kamsar and further transported by ore carriers with a displacement of 45-60 thousand tons. Mining in the Debele-Kindia region (Debele deposit) began from the end. 70s in an open way. The quarry was built with the participation of Sov. specialists. Production. open pit capacity 2.5 million tons of ore per year. Ruda on the train. (length 98 km) is delivered to the port of Conakry. For the development of new bauxite deposits, 3 open-pit mining enterprises have been established: at the Tuge region (design capacity 8 million tons of ore per year), at the Aekoe deposit in the Boke-Gaval region (9 million tons). tons of ore per year), where it is planned to build an alumina plant with a capacity of 1.2 million tons and an aluminum plant, and at the deposits of the Dabola district (6.5 million tons of ore per year), based on bauxite to-rogo it is supposed to build an alumina plant. The increase in alumina production is constrained by difficulties with electricity, which will, possibly, be overcome with the commissioning of a hydroelectric power plant on p. Koncourt.
Extraction of other minerals. Production of railroad ores in Georgia began in 1953 and the Kalum deposit was developed until 1967. Development of large deposits of railway is being designed. ores in the South -B. in years. Hemba and Shimandu. Full development of these deposits is planned after the construction of the railway station. from the city of Conakry to the border with Liberia.
Extraction of diamonds on the territory. G. began in the 30s. and was run by private companies and miners. B early. 60s diamond-mining enterprises are nationalized, in cep. 70s prom. production has been suspended due to depletion of reserves and lack of new enrichment. equipment. Its renewal is planned.
Gold mining on the territory. G. has been conducted for a long time by the handicraft method in the beginning of the 20th century. Europ. entrepreneurs have repeatedly tried to set up mining with dredges (for example, 218 kg of gold were mined on the p. Tenkiso in 1909-14). However, due to the insignificance of the reserves, commercial production was stopped.
Geological Survey. Personnel training. Organization of mining and geological works in G. are carried out by the Min-in forge. affairs and geology. Mining and geol. cadres are trained for mining and geol. f-those (in Boke) Polytechnic. Institute in the city of Conakry. Literature: Mikhailov B. M., Geology and western regions of the Liberian shield, M., 1969; Prokofiev S.S., Pokryshkin V.I., Geological and economic assessment of bauxite resources in Guinea, M., 1979. C. C. Prokofiev.

Mining encyclopedia. - M .: Soviet encyclopedia. Edited by E. A. Kozlovsky. 1984-1991 .

See what "Guinea" is in other dictionaries:

1) Republic of Guinea, state in 3. Africa. The name of the state va Guinea (Guinee) is adopted by the name of a large geogr. region African Guinea, which from the XIV century. indicated in Europ. maps in the forms of Ganua, Ginya, and from the 15th century. like Guinea. Most likely ... ... Geographical encyclopedia

Guinea- Guinea. In the upper reaches of the river. Niger. GUINEA (Republic of Guinea), a state in West Africa, washed by the Atlantic Ocean. The area is 246 thousand km2. Population 7.2 million people, Fulbe, Malinka, Susu, etc. The official language is French. Over 80% ... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

- (Republic of Guinea), a state in West Africa, washed by the Atlantic Ocean. The area is 246 thousand km2. Population 7.2 million people, Fulbe, Malinka, Susu, etc. The official language is French. Over 80% of the population is Muslim, about 1% ... ... Modern encyclopedia

Republic of Guinea (Republique de Guinee), a state in the West. Africa. 246 thousand km & sup2. population 7.4 million (1993); fulbe, raspberry, susu, etc. Urban population 25.6% (1990). The official language is French. Believers 85% are Muslims, ... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

GUINEA- (Guinee), Republic of Guinea (Republique de Guinee), a state in West Africa. Pl. 245.8 t km2. US. St. 5 million hours (1982). Capital Conakry (700 v., 1982). Before the proclamation of independence in 1958, it was owned by France. G. agp. country with ... ... Demographic Encyclopedic Dictionary

GUINEA- Territory 246 thousand square kilometers, population 7 million people (1986). Agriculture plays a major role in the country's economy. This industry employs 70% of the population. The main food crop is rice. Main cattle breeding areas Futa Jallon, Verkh ... World sheep breeding