Sierra Leone, country of western Africa. The country owes its name to the 15th-century Portuguese explorer Pedro de Sintra , the first European to sight and map Freetown harbour. The original Portuguese name, Serra Lyoa (“Lion Mountains”), referred to the range of hills that surrounds the harbour.

Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa, has a special significance in the history of the transatlantic slave trade as the departure point for thousands of west African captives.

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Learn about the history of Sierra Leone, a West African country with a diverse ethnic and cultural heritage. Explore its colonial past, its role in the slave trade and the abolition movement, and its political and economic development.

Warm and sweet, Sierra Leone bursts forth as a captivating destination for lovers of the outdoors and vibrant culture, explorers with adventure in their hearts. Find your freedom on her palm-fringed beaches, in the radiant smiles of the locals and beyond the depths of the lush rainforests of its tropical interior.

Explore the geography, provinces, and islands of Sierra Leone with maps and facts. Learn about its location, climate, rivers, mountains, and capital city.

Sierra Leone first became inhabited by indigenous African peoples at least 2,500 years ago. The Limba were the first tribe known to inhabit Sierra Leone. The dense tropical rainforest partially isolated the region from other West African cultures, and it became a refuge for peoples escaping violence and jihads.

Page last updated: Monday, November 04, 2024 Contents