The Republic of Liberia (formerly known as the Grain Coast) is a country in west Africa. It has a total area of 111,370 km2. The climate is tropical; hot and humid with dry winters with hot days and cool to cold nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers. The terrain is mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling plateau and low mountains in north-east. Natural resources are iron ore, timber, diamonds and gold. The religion is 70% traditional, 20% Muslim, 10% Christian. The official language is English but more than 20 local languages of the Niger- Congo language group are also spoken. Liberia was founded in 1816 by the American Colonization Society as a home for and the betterment of liberated slaves in the USA who could be repatriated to Africa. Liberia was at first governed by the whites, but became independent in 1847. After the American Civil War many of the freed slaves in the United States were permitted and, indeed, encouraged to migrate to Liberia, and financial aid was afforded them to do so. Liberia wasthe first independent african republic. Research Liberia
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