• The original name for Sierra Leone was the Portuguese name of Serra Lyoa. The literal meaning is “Lion Mountain” and refers to the large number of hills that surround Freetown Harbour.
• Rainfall along the coast of Sierra Leone can reach 495cm (195 inches) a year, making it one the wettest places along coastal, western Africa.
• Sierra Leone’s natural resources are diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore and gold.
• Sierra Leone has a tropical climate, typified by warm temperatures and high humidity. Night time temperatures rarely drop below 24C and daytime temperatures reach 30C throughout the year.
• Sierra Leone has the 3rd largest natural harbour in the world.
• Sierra Leone is recovering from a long, brutal civil war which killed and maimed many thousands. The war ended in 2001. The government, with considerable international assistance has put in place measures which have stabilised the country politically and economically.

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