Monrovia, Capital city on Cape Mesurado, Liberia
Monrovia is the capital and largest city of Liberia on the Atlantic coast at Cape Mesurado, with over a million residents in the metropolitan area. Residential neighborhoods climb from the waterfront up the hillsides, while government offices, markets, and houses spread across several districts.
The American Colonization Society founded the settlement in 1822 on Providence Island and named it after United States President James Monroe. After Liberia gained independence in 1847, it became the capital of the new republic and grew as a port and administrative center.
The National Museum displays masks, clothing, and tools from sixteen ethnic groups, arranged in cabinets with explanatory labels that visitors can study. At street corners, vendors sell cassava, dried fish, and palm oil, while radio broadcasts in English and several local languages drift through open windows.
The Freeport of Monrovia serves as the main maritime gateway for cargo in West Africa, processing containers, petroleum products, and general goods. Visitors should note that heavy rains between May and October can make roads and paths slippery and difficult to navigate.
The city receives 4,600 millimeters of rain annually, making it the wettest capital in Africa, with daily downpours from May to October. Despite the rainfall, many unpaved roads dry quickly between showers and remain passable for vehicles.
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