Nzérékoré
Encyclopedia
Nzérékoré, also spelled N'Zérékoré, is the largest city in the Guinée Forestière
region of south-eastern Guinea
and is capital of the Nzérékoré Prefecture
. It is Guinea's third largest city (after Conakry
, the capital city, and Kankan
, located in Upper Guinea). It was the centre of a rising against French
rule in 1911. It is now known as a market town
, and for its silver
working. The population was 107,329 in 1996 (census). Growing dramatically since the civil wars in neighboring Liberia
, Sierra Leone
, and Cote d'Ivoire
, the 2008 estimated population is between 250,000 and 300,000
when it became a centre for administration and trading. A sawmill was built and a plywood plant which has aided the local economy. The economic future of the town may rely on rich iron
deposits found near the city.
The city and the border with Sierra Leone and Liberia experienced disruption with civil war in the 1990s and early 2000s, and many refugees came to Nzérékoré during the First Liberian Civil War and the Second Liberian Civil War
. Other refugees came from the Ivory Coast. At times the population of the city with these people has been estimated as nearly 300,000.
connects the city with Kankan in the north. The city is also served by Nzérékoré Airport
.
Guinée Forestière
Guinée Forestière is a forested mountainous region in southeastern Guinea, extending into northeastern Sierra Leone. It is one of four natural regions into which Guinea is divided and covers 23% of the country...
region of south-eastern Guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
and is capital of the Nzérékoré Prefecture
Nzérékoré Prefecture
Nzérékoré is a prefecture located in the Nzérékoré Region of Guinea. The capital is Nzérékoré. The prefecture covers an area of 4,625 km.² Nzérékoré is a prefecture located in the Nzérékoré Region of Guinea. The capital is Nzérékoré. The prefecture covers an area of 4,625 km.² Nzérékoré...
. It is Guinea's third largest city (after Conakry
Conakry
Conakry is the capital and largest city of Guinea. Conakry is a port city on the Atlantic Ocean and serves as the economic, financial and cultural centre of Guinea with a 2009 population of 1,548,500...
, the capital city, and Kankan
Kankan
Kankan is the largest city in Guinea in land area, and the third largest in population at 207,790 . The city is located on the Milo River in eastern Guinea and lying about 345 miles east of Conakry....
, located in Upper Guinea). It was the centre of a rising against French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
rule in 1911. It is now known as a market town
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
, and for its silver
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
working. The population was 107,329 in 1996 (census). Growing dramatically since the civil wars in neighboring Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
, Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
, and Cote d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire
The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be...
, the 2008 estimated population is between 250,000 and 300,000
History
The town grew rapidly after World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
when it became a centre for administration and trading. A sawmill was built and a plywood plant which has aided the local economy. The economic future of the town may rely on rich iron
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
deposits found near the city.
The city and the border with Sierra Leone and Liberia experienced disruption with civil war in the 1990s and early 2000s, and many refugees came to Nzérékoré during the First Liberian Civil War and the Second Liberian Civil War
Second Liberian Civil War
The Second Liberian Civil War began in 1999 when a rebel group backed by the government of neighbouring Guinea, the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy , emerged in northern Liberia. In early 2003, a second rebel group, the Movement for Democracy in Liberia, emerged in the south, and...
. Other refugees came from the Ivory Coast. At times the population of the city with these people has been estimated as nearly 300,000.
Transport
The N1 highwayN1 road (Guinea)
The N1 is a national highway of Guinea, It connects the city of Conakry to Nzerekore and to the north with Kankan and eventually by the N7 and N32 to the border with Mali. It also passes through the city of Kouroussa....
connects the city with Kankan in the north. The city is also served by Nzérékoré Airport
Nzérékoré Airport
Nzérékoré Airport is an airport serving Nzérékoré in Guinea....
.