|
 Land
and Resources
History
The
People & Culture
Country name:
Republic of Benin;
Republique du Benin
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Nigeria and Togo
Climate: tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Population:
6,395, 919
Ethnic groups:
African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being
Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500
Nationality:
Beninese (singular and plural)
adjective: Beninese
Religions:
indigenous beliefs 70%, Muslim 15%, Christian 15%
Languages: French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common
vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in
north)
Literacy definition:
age 15 and over can read and write total population:37%
male:48.7%
female:25.8% (1995 est.)
Discussion
Forum
Catholic
Bookstore
Postcard
Service
On-line
Publication
Liturgical
Calendar
Prayer
Intention
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
|
|
Mar-20-02, 07:59 PM (EST)
|
 | Email this article to a friend |
 | Print a copy of this article |
 | Article Feedback |
 | Submit a Question
|
Land and Resources
by Staff of Immaculate Mediatrix On-line
|
BeninI. INTRODUCTION Benin, republic in western Africa, on the Gulf of Guinea. Known in full as the Republic of Benin, it extends inland about 670 km (about 415 mi) from its 121-km (75-mi) long gulf coast. Benin is bordered on the north by Burkina Faso and Niger, on the east by Nigeria, and on the west by Togo. Formerly part of French West Africa, it gained independence in 1960 as Dahomey; it was named Benin in 1975. It has an area of 112,622 sq km (43,484 sq mi). Porto-Novo is the capital and Cotonou is the largest city.
II. LAND AND RESOURCES The coast of Benin is a sandy barrier beach with no natural harbors. Immediately north of the beach is a network of shallow lagoons, and farther north is a fertile lowland called the barre country, most of which is intensively cultivated. In northern Benin the land rises to include the edge of a nearly 500-m (1,600-ft) high plateau of ancient rocks and mostly infertile soils and, in the northwest, the rugged Atakora Mountains. A. Rivers and Lakes The Ouémé and Kouffo rivers drain most of southern Benin, and the Mono River, which forms part of the border with Togo, drains the southwest. The main rivers of northern Benin are the Niger, which forms part of the boundary with the republic of Niger, and its tributaries, the Sota, Mékrou, and Alibori rivers. B. Climate Benin's climate ranges in type from equatorial in the south to an increasingly arid tropical wet-and-dry climate in the north. The south receives about 1,300 mm (about 51 in) of rainfall a year, mostly during March to July and October to November; the average monthly temperature ranges from 20° to 34°C (68° to 93°F). Temperatures also are high in the north, and the annual rainfall of about 890 mm (about 35 in) occurs mainly from May to September.
C. Plants and Animals
A dense tropical rain forest once covered much of the land close behind Benin's coastal strip. The rain forest has largely been cleared, except near rivers, and palms now are the main trees of the region. Woodlands form a large part of central Benin, and grasslands predominate in the drier north. Among the various animals found in Benin are elephants, buffalo, antelope, panthers, monkeys, crocodiles, and wild ducks. D. Natural Resources An offshore petroleum field is located near Cotonou. Other mineral resources of Benin include iron ore, phosphates, chromium, rutile, clay, marble, and limestone. E. Environmental Issues Access to safe water in Benin has increased considerably since 1980, at least in urban areas. Deforestation rates are higher than the average for Africa, and only 24 percent (2000) of Benin's land area remains forested. About 7 percent (1997) of the country is protected in national parks, but poaching continues to threaten wildlife populations. Droughts have severely affected marginal agriculture in the north.
|
|
|
|
