Sierra Leone - The Athens of West Africa Quiz

Answer: Guinea and Liberia

The Republic of Sierra Leone is bordered by Guinea to the northwest, north, and northeast. Sierra Leone is bordered by Liberia to the southeast. Part of the border between Sierra Leone and Guinea is demarcated by the 10th parallel north.

Answer: The Equator

Sierra Leone is one of the smallest African mainland nations. Geographically speaking, it lies between the 7th and 10th parallel north. The Tropic of Cancer, or the Northern Tropic, is located approximately 23.4 degrees north of the Equator. On the other hand, the Tropic of Capricorn, or the Southern Tropic, is located approximately 23.4 degrees south of the Equator. Sierra Leone experiences two distinct seasons - dry season between November and May, and rainy season between June and October.

Answer: Lion Mountains

The name "Sierra Leone" is originally derived from the Portuguese words "Serra Leoa", which mean "Lioness Mountains". The Lion Mountains, also known as Lioness Mountains or Peninsula Mountains, are located on the Freetown Peninsula, near the capital of Sierra Leone, Freetown.

The Atlas Mountains are located in northwest Africa. The Ural Mountains are located in Russia. The Rocky Mountains are located in North America.

Answer: Circle

Argentinian mathematician Gonzalo Ciruelos proposed an algorithm to evaluate the roundness of map's outline. The values of the proposed evaluation metric range between 0 and 1. The closer the computed value is to 1 implies that the map has a higher degree of "roundness".

The map of Sierra Leone yields the highest roundness value, at 0.934. This is followed by Nauru (0.923) and Zimbabwe (0.915).

Answer: It is home to Africa's largest natural harbor.

Freetown is one of the major port cities on the Atlantic Ocean. The two main harbors located in Freetown are Queen Elizabeth II Quay and Government Wharf. Freetown is served by Lungi International Airport, also known as Freetown International Airport.

Answer: Mount Bintumani

Mount Bintumani is located in the Northern Province of Sierra Leone. The mountain is home to various unique and threatened species of animals, which include pygmy hippopotamus and rufous fishing owl.

Mount Wilhelm (4509 meters or 14793 feet) is Papua New Guinea's highest mountain. Mount Olympus (1951 meters or 6401 feet) is Greece's highest mountain. Mount Cameroon (4040 meters or 13255 feet) is Cameroon's highest mountain.

Answer: Chimpanzee

Founded in 1995, the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary is located in Sierra Leone's Western Area Peninsula National Park. In 2019, English primatologist Jane Goodall visited Sierra Leone and it was then that the Sierra Leonean Government announced that the chimpanzee is the country's national animal.

Answer: Fourah Bay College

Located in Sierra Leone's capital, Freetown, Fourah Bay College was founded on 18 February 1827 by the Church Missionary Society. Notable alumni of this university include Sierra Leone's fourth President Ernest Bai Koroma and his wife Sia Nyama Koroma.

Answer: Idris Elba

Idris Elba, or his birth name, Idrissa Akuna Elba, was born in London, England in 1972. His father is Sierra Leonean, whereas his mother is Ghanian. Elba visited Sierra Leone in 2019. Commenting on the given Sierra Leone citizenship, Elba said, "I'm no stranger to Africa. I've been in Africa, I've made films in Africa, I've championed Africa.

But Sierra Leone, it's a very different feeling because it's my parent's home." Elba is noted for his portrayal of Heimdall in "Thor" (2011) and "Avengers: Infinity War" (2018).

Answer: All three countries are founded by former slaves.

Sierra Leone gained its independence from the UK in 1961. As with Haiti and Liberia, Sierra Leone was founded by American freed slaves. Haiti gained its independence from France in 1804, whereas Liberia gained its independence from the US in 1847.