ABSTRACT
Liberia was established in 1847 as a settlement of freed American slaves. It is the oldest state in West Africa. The United States has exercised substantial influence, but Liberia has never been formally colonised. Large parts of the country are made up of thick jungle. Swamps with mangrove trees, low bushes and oil palm trees mark the coastal region, stretching inland for about 40 kilometres. Thereafter the country rises and forms a plateau, making up half of Liberia, broken up by mountain ranges, which contain iron ore and are mostly covered by thick rainforest. A large part of the country is inaccessible to motorised vehicles. Apart from iron ore, rubber and timber are important commodities. The country has a long rainy season lasting from July till December. The border region with Côte d’Ivoire is the agricultural heartland of Liberia, producing cassava, rice, coffee, cocoa and palm oil as main crops.
