The+Republic+of+the+Congo


 * __Background Information__-** After winning there independence in nineteen-sixty(1960). The once French ruled region of the Middle Congo, was then named The Republis of the Congo. After a quarter of a century with trial and errors with "Marxism" it was given-up on in 1990. And in 1992, the democratically elected goverment took office. After a civil war brokeout in 1997, it restorted the former marxist president Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, and rushed in a period of Ethical and Political unrest. A band of Southern-based rebel groups finally agreed to a peace setteling in March of 2003, but the calm is tenuous and refugees countinue to present a humanitarian crisis. The Republic of the Congo was once also one of the largest producers and sellers of petroleum, in Africa. But with the countrys recent declining production rates, it will need to open new off-shore oil finds to sustain its oil earnings over the long-term.
 * __Geography__**- The **geographic coordinates** of The Republic of The Congo are, 1.00S and 15.00E. The **total area** of the country is 342,000 square-kilometers, land being 341,500 square-kilometers and water being only 500 square-kilometers. The **size comparison** of this country to an average U.S. state, would be around, or slightly smaller than Montana. The Republic's **coastline** streaches a whole of 169 kilometers, and they claim over 200 miles of sea. The **climate** of The Republic is a mostly Tropical country, rainy seasons (March to June), dry seasons (June to October). This country has many **terrains**, the most typical terrains you will come across are coastal plains, southern basins, central plateaus, and northern basins. Some **natural resources** that come from The Rep. of the Congo are. petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, gold, magnesium, natural gas, and hydropower. There are many **natural hazards** in The Rep. of the Congo, the major population decreaser of all of them is seasonal flooding. Which drowns and kills many civilians, and kills many growing crops leaving other civilians hungery and starved. The current enviormental issues effecting The Rep. of the Congo are air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from the dumping of raw sewage; tap water is not potable; and deforestation.
 * __People__**- The Republic of the Congo has a **total population** of 4,012,809. (note: the estimates of the population of this country, have taken into account the explicit mortality rating due to the wide-spread AIDS apedemic throughout parts of africa.) **Birth rates** are paticularly low in The Republic of the Congo, the average birth rate is 47 births a year. the **death rate** however is a very large percentage, totaling a yearly average of 575 civilians out of the estimated 1000 civians per-village, or town. Due to infectious dieseases, dirty water, and contamiated food sources. The **life expactancy** for the average peron living the The Rep. of the Congo is estimated at 54.15 years, Specifically Men living around (52.9 years) and Women living around (55.43 years). Major **ethical groups** in Th Rep. of the Congo are Kongo (48%), Sangha (20%), M'Bochi (12%), Teke (17%), Europeans and other (3%). Due to major ethical diversity in this country, the languages spoken and religions practiced are very different. **Languages** spoken. French (official), Lingala and Monokutuba (lingua franca trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo is the most widespread), the **religons practiced** in the country include. Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2%.
 * __Goverment__**-