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Cameroon
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Presentation
Cameroon is located in Central Africa, at the bottom of the Gulf of Guinea. It lies between the second and thirteenth degrees North latitude on the one hand, and between the eighth and sixteenth degrees East latitude on the other.
With a total area of 475650 km2, the national territory is divided into 10 regions, 58 departments, 361 arrondissements and 389 communes. The regions, departments and arrondissements are placed respectively under the authority of governors, prefects and sub-prefects.
The relief is generally contrasted: highland regions unevenly distributed throughout the country with volcanic massifs such as Mount Cameroon, 4070 metres, a volcano that is still active; Mount Manengouba, 2396 metres, the Bamboutos Mountains, 2,740 metres and Mount Oku, 3,008 metres.
The Adamaoua Plateau is a real "water tower" for the country because the main rivers originate there. These rivers flow into basins such as the Atlantic, which receives: the Sanaga (the longest river in the country with 920 km), the Nyong, the Ntem, the Moungo and the Wouri, the Niger basin into which the Benue flows.
The country is divided into three major climatic zones: the equatorial zone which extends from the second to the sixth degree of latitude North, the Sudanian zone as for it extends from the seventh to the tenth degree of latitude North. The dry season lasts five to six months here and the Sudano-Sahelian zone which extends beyond the tenth degree North latitude. It is characterized by a seven-month dry season and low rainfall.
Cameroon has several major cities including Yaoundé, the political capital with over two million inhabitants, Douala, the economic capital with over three million inhabitants. Then come cities such as Garoua, Bafoussam, Maroua, Bamenda, Buea, Ebolowa, Bertoua, N'Gaoundéré which are regional capitals and important urban centres.
Its population is estimated at 19 million inhabitants (2010), composed of nearly 240 ethnic groups, divided into three major groups (Bantu, Semi-Bantu, Sudanese) and corresponds to 240 national languages.
Cameroon Tourism and Culture