World  > Africa  > Cameroon
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General Information Area: 475,442 sq km (183,569 sq miles). Population: 14,859,000 (1999). Population Density: 31.3 per sq km. Capital: Yaoundé (constitutional). Population: 1,372,800 (1999). Douala (economic). Population: 1,448,300 (1999). GEOGRAPHY: Situated on the west coast of Africa, Cameroon is bounded to the west by the Gulf of Guinea, to the northwest by Nigeria, to the northeast by Chad (with Lake Chad at its northern tip), to the east by the Central African Republic and to the south by Congo, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. The far north of the country is a semi-desert broadening into the vast Maroua Plain, with game reserves and mineral deposits. This is bordered to the west by the lush Mandara Mountains. The Benue River rises here and flows westwards into the Niger. The country to the northwest is very beautiful; volcanic peaks covered by bamboo forest rise to over 2000m (6500ft), with waterfalls and villages scattered over the lower slopes. Further to the south and west are savannah uplands, while dense forest covers the east and south. The coastal strip is tropical and cultivated. Cameroon derives its name from the 15th-century Portuguese sailor Fernando Po’s description of the River Wouri: Rio dos Cameroes (‘river of shrimps’). Government: Republic. Gained independence in 1961. Head of State: President Paul Biya since 1982. Head of Government: Prime Minister Peter Mafany Musonge since 1996. Language: The official languages are French and English. They are given equal importance in the Constitution but French is the more commonly spoken. Spanish is spoken in some urban centres. There are 240 local African languages. Religion: Fifty-three per cent Christian, 25 per cent traditional animist beliefs, 22 per cent Muslim. Time: GMT + 1. Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are round two-pin; bayonet light-fittings are used. Communications:   Telephone IDD is available to and from Cameroon. Country code: 237. Outgoing international code: 00. International calls can be made from Intelcam offices. Telephones can usually be found in post offices and restaurants, and there are telephone booths in the towns. Phonecards are available. The main towns in Cameroon are linked by automatic dialling, but this service is often unreliable. Mobile telephone GSM 900 network provides coverage mainly in Yaoundé, Douala and the southwest of the country. Network operators include Société Camerounaise de Mobiles (SCM). Fax Available at Intelcam offices. Internet ISPs include Camnet (website: www.camnet.cm). Internet cafes, which are on the increase, exist in the main towns. Charges are significantly higher outside Yaoundé and Douala. Telegram Facilities are available at Yaoundé and Douala post offices and at larger hotels but service is slow. Post Stamps can only be obtained from post offices. Mail takes about a week to reach addresses in Europe. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0730-1530. Press The main newspaper is the (government-controlled) Cameroon Tribune, published daily in French and English. Other English-language newspapers include the Cameroon Post and the Cameroon Times (weekly) as well as The Herald and The Messenger (three times a week). BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change. BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice): MHz 17.83 15.40 11.77 7.160 Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov): MHz 15.58 11.98 6.035 0.909 From www.columbusguides.com, Copyright © 2004 Highbury Columbus Travel Publishing Terms and Conditions apply.