two thirds of the people live in rural areas.
Economy
Guinea’s economy depends on agriculture
and mining. Crops include cassava,
rice, oil palm fruit, plantains, sugarcane,
peanuts, and coffee. Guinea is one of the
world’s top producers of bauxite, which
is used to make aluminum. Guinea also
has reserves of iron ore, gold, and diamonds.
History
The Fulani dominated the Fouta Djallon
region by the 1500s. By that time
the Portuguese had already arrived on
the coast. They developed the slave
trade, which continued until the 1800s.
By 1890 the French had made Guinea a
colony. In 1895 it was made part of the
colonial territory called FrenchWest
Africa.
Guinea gained independence in 1958.
The first president ruled as a brutal dictator.
In 1984 the army took control of
the government. Guinea held its first
democratic elections in 1993. Military
leaders were elected and remained in
power into the 21st century.
..More to explore
Conakry
Facts About
GUINEA
Population
(2008 estimate)
9,572,000
Area
94,919 sq mi
(245,836 sq km)
Capital
Conakry
Form of
government
Republic
Major cities
Conakry, Kankan,
Labe, Kindia,
Nzerekore,
Kissidougou
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Guinea 169
Guinea-Bissau
The Republic of Guinea-Bissau lies on
Africa’s northwestern coast. It is one of
the poorest countries in the world. The
capital is Bissau.
Geography
Guinea-Bissau borders Senegal and
Guinea. The Atlantic Ocean forms its
western border. The country’s territory
includes the Bijagos Islands to the
southwest. Guinea-Bissau has lowlands
near the coast, a central plain, and highlands
in the northeast. The climate is
hot year-round, with heavy rainfall
along the coast.
Plants and Animals
Mangroves and palm trees grow near the
coast. The interior plain is heavily forested.
The north is mainly savanna, or
grassland with scattered trees.Wildlife
includes crocodiles, snakes, gazelles,
leopards, hyenas, apes, flamingos, and
pelicans.
People
Guinea-Bissau’s population includes
about 20 ethnic groups. The largest are
the Balante, the Fulani, the Mandyako,
the Malinke, and the Pepel. Portuguese
is the official language, but many people
speak Crioulo, a mixture of Portuguese
and African languages. Most of the
people practice traditional religions or
Islam. About one third of the people live
in cities.
Economy
Guinea-Bissau’s economy depends on
farming. Crops include cashews, oil
palm fruit, rice, cassava, sweet potatoes,
coconuts, and cotton. Farmers also raise
cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats. The main
industries are wood and food processing,
especially of fish. Cashews are Guinea-
Bissau’s most important export.
History
Farming peoples have lived in what is
now Guinea-Bissau for more than 1,000
years. The Portuguese arrived in the
1440s and soon set up a slave trade.
Portugal took control of the whole territory
by 1915.
Guinea-Bissau won independence in
1974. During 1980–99 a military general
ruled the country. In 1998 a civil
war forced many people to leave. Political
instability continued into the 21st
century.
..More to explore
Bissau
Facts About
GUINEA-BISSAU
Population
(2008 estimate)
1,503,000
Area
13,948 sq mi
(36,125 sq km)
Capital
Bissau
Form of
government
Republic
Major cities
Bissau, Bafata,
Cacheu, Gabu
170 Guinea-Bissau BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
Guinea Pig
The domestic, or tamed, guinea pig is a
small rodent that is popular as a pet. It is
also used in medical research. Several
other species, or types, of guinea pig live
in the wild.
Guinea pigs have a stocky body, short
ears, and no tail. They are about 8 to 16
inches (20 to 40 centimeters) long and
weigh 1 to 3 pounds (0.5 to 1.5 kilograms).
The front feet have four toes
and the back feet have three. Each toe
ends in a sharp claw.
Wild guinea pigs are found in South
America. They live near forests and
swamps and in grasslands and rocky
places. They spend the day in
underground holes called burrows. At
night they come out to eat grass and
leaves. They have long, rough gray or
brown fur.
The domestic guinea pig can have long,
short, silky, coarse, or smooth fur. It
may be black, white, tan, cream, or
brown. Some have a combination of
these colors. Like its wild relatives, the
domestic guinea pig eats plants.
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Pet • Rodent
Gulf of Mexico
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Gull
The waterbirds called gulls can be found
nearly all around the world. They are
commonly heard screaming and seen
swooping over the water at seacoasts and
lakeshores. Gulls can fly, swim along the
water surface, and walk well.
There are more than 40 species, or
types, of gull, including kittiwakes.
Gulls belong to the scientific family
Laridae, along with terns. Terns are similar
to gulls in many ways. However,
terns tend to be smaller and more slender
than gulls. Terns also have shorter
legs, longer wings, and straighter bills.
Some domestic guinea pigs are a combination
of colors.
A group of gulls flies through the air.
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Gull 171
Adult gulls are usually white or gray,
sometimes with dark markings. They
range in length from about 11 to 31
inches (28 to 79 centimeters). Their
long wings help them glide.Wingspreads
range from about 24 inches (61
