Country Profile: Facts About Cote d’Ivoire

Today, we present a few interesting facts about the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire, otherwise known as the Ivory Coast. This is a country that was once nicknamed the ‘teeth coast’ due its swashbuckling trade in ivory. 

Location And Size

Cote d’Ivoire lies in the Western coast of Africa. It borders the North Atlantic Ocean. It is straddled between Ghana and Liberia. In size it is slightly larger than the State of New Mexico, US.

Economic Importance

Cote d’Ivoire is the world’s largest exporter of cocoa, the principal raw material for making chocolate. It also exports super large volumes of coffee and palm oil.

Conservation

Cote d’Ivoire’s Tai National Park is home to the pygmy hippopotamus. The Tai National Park is one of the last remaining areas of virgin rain forest in West Africa.

Principal City

The city of Abidjan is Cote d’Ivoire’s economic capital. It is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful

cities in Africa.

Places Of Interest

Notre Dame de la Paix: This large cathedral is patterned after the famous Saint Peter Basilica in Rome. It can comfortably seat 18.000 people and is filled with mind blowing African style art.

Cote d’Ivoire’s Grand Bassam: This is colonial era building you might want to visit. The interior is well maintained and speaks to a period in the history of the country.

The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro: This is another site you must endeavour to see. Guinness has called it the largest church in the world.

Don’t forget to visit Sassandra, by the sea. You can go searching for hippos; or see monkeys swing freely from trees, or birds chirping in a way you’ve never seen.

Bonus Fact

Cote d’Ivoire was the first black Republic and first non-English speaking country to win an Academy Award. The Oscar was awarded for the country’s film ‘Black and White in Color’ when it won the Academy Award for Best Foreign-Language Film.