Gabon enjoys political stability
and is a relatively prosperous country. It is the least densely populated
country in Central Africa. Situated within the Congo Basin it is considered by
experts as the 2nd lung of planet Earth.
Beneath a thick untamed forest,
not very favorable to human population, Gabon is a haven for local fauna and
flora characterized by amazing diversity. The country is home to 85% of the
world’s best preserved rain forests, famous for being Africa’s richest.
Central Africa in general and
especially Gabon, boast the world’s richest biodiversity.
It includes :
- About 8000 vegetable species
(orchids, begonia, exotic woods) with 20% endemic specie
- 150 mammal species (including
19 species of primates)
- 752 bird species of which many
are endemic species
- 60% of Africa’s elephants
(estimated number: 60 000 individuals)
- First reproduction site
worldwide for the leatherback turtles, along with Guyana,
- humpback whales
- Some threatened animal species
or species not widely represented at the level of the African continent still
have important populations in Gabon.
- Among the most remarkable
species, manatees, gorillas, chimpanzees, mandrills
Gabon, a champion of
biodiversity
During the 2002 Earth Summit in
South Africa, Gabon announced the creation of a network of 13 National Parks.
11% of Gabon’s territory is now
listed as part of the National Park. Second to Costa Rica, Gabon thus stands as
the country which protects the largest surface of its territory.
« This is an act with a worldwide
impact which will doubtless imply sacrifices in the short and medium term.
However, it mirrors our ambition which is to hand down these wonders of nature
to the future generations » said El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba, President of the
Republic of Gabon.
NATIONAL PARK /PROVINCE /SURFACE
/TYPE OF LANDSCAPE
- Akanda ,Estuary 540 km² mangrove
- Birougou
mountains Ngounie, Ogowe-Lolo 690 km² mountain
- Ivindo,
Ogowe-Ivindo 3 000 km² equatorial forest
- Loango,
Ogowe-Maritime 1550 km² sandy shore
- Lope,
Ogowe-Ivindo 4970 km² forest and savannah
- Mayumba, Nyanga 80 km² sandy
shore
- Minkebe,
Woleu-Ntem 7560 km² equatorial forest
- Crystal Mountains, Estuary1200
km² mountain
- Moukalaba-Doudou, Nyanga 4500
km²equatorial forest
- Mwagne,
Ogowe-Ivindo 1160 km² equatorial forest
- Bateke
plateaus, Upper-Ogowe 2050 km² equatorial forest
- Pongara
Estuary, 870 km² mangrove, sandy shore
- Waka, Ngounie 1070 km² mountain
GABON’S ID CARD
- Name : Republic of Gabon
- Surface : 267 667 km²
- Capital city : Libreville
- Economic capital : Port-Gentil
Population
· 2 119 000 inhabitants (55% of
which live in towns and suburban areas)
·
Friendly, adaptable, open to the
world
Language
·
Official : French
·
Local : Fang, Myene, Bapoumou, Bandjabi, Obamba…
Ethnic groups
·
The native population is
composed of two major groups : Pygmies (1% of the population) and Bantus
·
There are 6 major groups of
Bantus : Fang, Bapounou, Mbede, Bandjabi, Bakota, Omyene and about 50
ethnic groups
Religion
·
96,2% christians
Provinces (9)
·
Estuary (Libreville)
·
Upper Ogowe (Franceville)
·
Ogowe -Ivindo (Makokou)
·
Ogowe-Lolo (Koulamoutou)
·
Ogowe -Maritine (Port-Gentil)
·
Middle Ogowe (Lambarene)
·
Ngounie (Mouila)
·
Nyanga (Tchimbanga)
·
Woleu-Ntem (Oyem)
Landscape and vegetation
·
The longest river : the Ogowe
1200 km long
·
Beaches : 885 km of wild beaches
·
Sempervirente equatorial forest
or rainforests : 85% of forest coverage, i.e. 230 000 km2
·
Savannah : in the East and in
the South
Borders
·
Equatorial Guinea in the
North-West, Cameroon to the North, East and South and Atlantic Ocean to the
West
·
Highest summit: Mont Iboundji
1575 m
Climate
·
Equatorial climate, both hot and
humid
·
Annual temperature : constant
and high, 84-73F/26°C on average
·
Annual rainfall : between 1500
mm and 4000 mm (depending on the area)
·
Humidity : 81%
Weather
·
Two dry
seasons = cloudy skies and lower temperatures one
- From mid-December to January (low dry season)
- From June to mid-September (high dry season)
·
Two wet
seasons = hot and sunny days one
- From February to May (high wet season with
heavy storms in March and April)
- From mid-September to mid-December (low wet
season)
Distinctive signs
·
Crossed by the Equator
·
Same time zone as France (GTM+1)
Currency
·
CFA Franc (2018 rate:1 € = 655.9
F CFA) or 499,25 dollars
Exports
·
Crude oil : 81%
·
Wood : Gaboon (with 93% of
sales, Gabon holds the monopoly, together with Equatorial Guinea and the
Congo), mahogany, douka, moabi
·
Minerals : manganese (number 2 world exporter), uranium, iron,
zinc, gold, silver, diamonds
Infrastructure
·
Roads : around 10 000 km and 936 km asphalted
·
Railways : 668 km across the
country
·
Main airports : Libreville, Port-Gentil, Franceville
·
Main port : Libreville, Owendo,
Port-Gentil
·
Waterways : main means of
communication through the extremely dense vegetation, can be used all year
round
