Water resources in Guinea
Rainfall in Guinea is between 1,200 and 4,200 mm per year. For this reason, the country has fertile lands and abundant underground and surface water. The biggest rivers watering the West African region have their sources in Guinea. As a matter of fact Guinea is termed the “Water Tower of West Africa”.
Guinean Forests
The eastern and southern parts of Guinea are covered with a primary forest of 100,000 km2. In addition, there is also a secondary forest of an area of 40,000 km2.
Agricultural Resources
National assets that include topography, hydrography and climate create ideal conditions for developing dynamic and diversified agriculture, animal husbandry and forestry.
Guinea has at its disposal 7 million hectares of cultivable land which can be for the most part reclaimed and irrigated. The most productive land is found in the Forest Region, in plains, particularly in Maritime Guinea and in Upper Guinea or in bottom lands.
Mineral Resources
As regards mineral resources, some people have talked of geological scandal in view of the existence of abundant and varied wealth. The Guinean subsoil conceals significant deposits of:
- Bauxite = 25 billion tons, accounting for the 2/3 of world reserves approximately;
- Gold = 1000 tons;
- Diamond = 30 million carats.
Moreover, Guinea has the richest high grade iron ore deposits in the world but which have not yet been developed: the SIMANDOU range contains 2 billion tons and the Mount NIMBA 1 Billion tons.
Apart from the aforementioned wealth, the Guinean soil contains limestone deposits (Mali, Siguiri and Kindia) not yet exploited and there are indications of the presence of nickel, cobalt, titanium and uranium.
Hydroelectric Potentials
129 falls which can be developed have been identified. Their hydroelectric potential is 6.11 GW with a probable production of 19,300 GWH. The most important falls are on the KONKOURE, FATALA, GAMBIA, NIGER and TINKISSO Rivers.
Sea resources
The Guinean coast opening to the Atlantic Ocean is 300 km long, with an exclusive economic zone of 56,000 Km2. Its fish resource potential is estimated at 230,000 Tons.
Tourism Potentials
Guinea’s tourism potentials have remained almost unexploited whereas they offer a variety of sites that are as attractive as every other, whether one considers fine sand beaches, verdant islands, mountains with their falls and micro-climate, the savanna where the big game roams through and wanders around and constitutes a wonderful hunting ground. Guinea also offers valuable sites of great interest:
- NIOKOLO – BADIAR and Upper NIGER national parks ;
- Chimpanzees at Bossou living in community under the leadership of a patriarch ; they use a tool (woodstick) to pick fruits from trees and dig holes.
- Mount Nimba viviparous toads which reproduce by giving birth to small toads instead of laying eggs.
- The bridegroom veil sparkling out of a water fall of exceptional beauty and unbelievable brightness, looking so much like a bridal veil.
- The Lady of Mali caved by erosion in the rock on a mountain and gives the perfect image of a woman.
- The slave trade sites at Dubreka and Boffa.
Finally, it should be recalled that Guinea is the motherland of the famous African Ballets, the best percussionists of the continent, bands and several musical groups of world