Home |
|
Somalia, officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic, is a country placed in the Horn of Africa with the Gulf of Aden to the north and the Indian Ocean to the east. It is edged by Djibouti to the northwest, Kenya on its southwest, the Gulf of Aden with Yemen on its north, the Indian Ocean at its east, and Ethiopia to the west. In area it is slightly smaller than Texas. Generally arid and barren, Somalia has two chief rivers, the Shebelle and the Juba. The location of Somalia is 2°02′N, 45°21′E, Capital and largest city is Mogadishu, the official language is Somali, and other recognized regional languages are Arabic, Italian and English. The total area is 637,661 km², the estimated Population is 9,558,666, the GDP per capita is $600, the currency Somali shilling (SOS), the calling code is +252. The country got independence from the UK and Italy in June 26 & July 1, 1960. The major climatic aspects are a year-round hot climate, seasonal monsoon winds, and irregular rainfall with recurring droughts. Mean daily minimums usually vary from about 15 °C to 30 °C (60–85 °F). The southwest monsoon, a sea breeze, makes the phase from about May to October the mildest season at Mogadishu. The December-February period of the northeast monsoon is also comparatively mild, although reigning climatic situations in Mogadishu are rarely pleasant. From the 7th to the 10th century, Arab and Persian trading posts were established along the coast of present-day Somalia. In the 16th century, Turkish rule extended to the northern coast, and the sultans of Zanzibar gained control in the south. Nomadic tribes occupied the interior, occasionally pushing into Ethiopian territory. The ethnicity/race in the country are Somali 85%, Bantu and others 15% (including Arabs 30,000), the religion followed is Islam (Sunni), the literacy rate: 38% (2001 estimate), the agriculture produce of the country is bananas, sorghum, corn, coconuts, rice, sugarcane, mangoes, sesame seeds, beans; cattle, sheep, goats; fish. There are a few light industries, including sugar refining, textiles, and wireless communication. Natural resources: uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt, natural gas, likely oil reserves. Major trading partners of the country are UAE, Yemen, Oman, Djibouti, Kenya, India, Brazil (2004).
|
