Benin

Benin (till 1975 called Dahomey) occupies small terrain (112,6 thousand both  sq. km), drawn down from coast of gulf of Guinea on 700 km northward. Till 1960 Benin was possession France, after declaration of independence - the presidential republic which has saved the French tongue in the capacity of official.

The Southern part of the country - bayshore lowland where the ocean has generated the long-shore shaft from sandy silts of the rivers and inflow which occludes the continental shore which has been cut up by fakes from the sea. A climate of the south of Benin - equatorial with two seasons of rains (March-July and the end of September - the beginning of November) when falls out 800-1300 mm of deposits. Monthly average temperatures of air - 24-27 °C. The coast is covered by the wet equatorial woods occupying almost the fifth part of terrain of the country. The low plateau restricted from the north to mounts Savalu and the Dasa-zoom to the north lays. In neritic waters and ustjah the rivers it is a lot of fish: here catch well-known beninskuju tilapiju in weight to 50 kg.

The Average part of the country is occupied with the plateau combined by crystal mucks to which from the north hills Atakora (a climate - 635 border on, and further in the northeast the valley of the boundary river Niger lays. The plateau is recut by the largest river of Benin - Veme. In the north accurately expressed two seasons - dry (from October till April) and rainy. Average temperature of January 25 °C, July 32 °C, it is less than deposits, than in the south - 750-1250 mm, are frequent droughts. Northern part of the country is a typical Sudanese savannah with acacias, palm trees of thoughts, arbours karite, rich fauna (antelopes, lions, panthers, cheetahs, are more rare - elephants and water buffaloes), especially in national parks Double Ve and Pendzhari.

The country Population (nearby 5,1 million persons) very motley on ethnic composition (more than 60 people), are most numerous east eve, to which the nationality a hum - skilful farmers and handicraftsmen (earthenware handcraft, weaving, bronze casting, a thread on a bone and an arbour), keepers of rich folklore refers to. Skilful fishers of the people gun live at coast in huts on piles from teka which wood is not subject to rotting. Two thirds of people of Benin save adherence to traditional convictions, the others practise Islam or Christianity.

Country Capital - It rto-is new - numbers nearby 150 thousand inhabitants. Here there is a presidential palace, a building of National meeting, exploratory institutes, museums and a botanic garden. But the greatest city of Benin (nearby 200 thousand inhabitants) is port of Cotonou. Cities of Benin long since were the centre of cultural life, here there were the basic educational institutions delivering qualified specialists in other countries Western Africa.