Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, is also its chief port and the largest city. Originally, it was explored by the Portuguese in the 1400's, but French, British, Dutch and Danish limited Portuguese control in the region. The government for all Great Britain's West African possessions made Freetown it's seat in 1821. Freetown retained this position till 1874. It became the nation's capital in 1961.

Freetown supports a population of over 470,000. The Guma Dam has provided the solution to a longtime water problem and also provides electrical power. Freetown contains numerous colleges, a technical institute and schools, as well as mosques and churches. It also contains an excellent natural harbor which was an important naval base during the second World War. It is also the site of a number of colleges and universities including the University of Sierra Leone.

[ Western Africa - Northern Africa - Eastern Africa ]
[ Central Africa - Southern Africa - the African Islands ]

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