Equatorial Guinea is a country of luscious vegetation and
beautiful scenery, including
tropical forests and
snow-capped volcanoes. The capital,
Malabo, is a rather rundown but attractive town, with pleasant
Spanish colonial architecture, a striking volcanic setting and a
lively market. The white-sand
beaches around the islands are stunning. No wonder the country was first of all named 'Formosa', meaning 'beautiful', by the Portuguese.
The area was first
colonized by the Portuguese in the late 15th century and handed over to the
Spanish in 1788. Self-government was granted in 1959, followed by full independence in 1968.
Its economy has expanded rapidly following the discovery of
oil and gas deposits in the Gulf of Guinea, though little of this wealth has trickled down to the general population. The government has been described by a variety of human rights organizations as among the worst abusers of human rights in Africa.
GeographyEquatorial Guinea is bordered to the south and east by Gabon, to the north by Cameroon and to the west by the Gulf of Guinea. The country also comprises the island of Bioko, formerly Fernando Po, 34km (21 miles) off the coast of Cameroon, and the small offshore islands of Corisco, Great Elobey, Small Elobey and Annobón (formerly Pagalu). The mainland province, Rió Muni, is mainly forest, with plantations on the coastal plain and some mountains. Bioko rises steeply to two main peaks in the north and south. The southern area is rugged and inaccessible. Cultivation and settlements exist on the other slopes; above the farming land, the forest is thick. The beaches around the islands are extremely beautiful.
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