A Long Way GoneA Long Way Goneunderstanding the settingunderstanding the setting

Where in the World is Sierra Leone?Where in the World is Sierra Leone?

Sierra Leone is located on the west coast of Africa, between the 7th and 10th parallels north of the equator. Sierra Leone is bordered by Guinea to the north and northeast, Liberia to the south and southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west.

The country has four distinct geographical regions: coastal mangrove swamps, the wooded hill country, an upland plateau, and the eastern mountains.

Eastern Sierra Leone is an interior region of large plateaus interspersed with high mountains, where Mount Bintumani rises to 1,948 meters (6,390 ft).

Climate: tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April).

Natural resources: diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite.

Environment issues: rapid population growth pressuring the environment; overharvesting of timber, expansion of cattle grazing and slash and burn agriculture have resulted in deforestation and soil exhaustion; civil war depleting natural resources; overfishing.

Cities and Rivers in Sierra LeoneCities and Rivers in Sierra Leone

Mattru Jong

Cassava RootCassava Root

Groundnut SellerGroundnut Seller

A LorryA Lorry

The CoastlineThe Coastline