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GHANA
Ghana is bounded on the north and northwest by Burkina Faso, on the east by Togo, on the south by the Atlantic Ocean,
and on the west by Cote d'Ivoire. Formerly a British colony known as the Gold Coast, Ghana was the first nation in sub-Saharan
Africa to achieve independence (1957). The country is named after the ancient empire of Ghana, from which the ancestors of
the inhabitants of the present country are thought to have migrated. The total land area is 92,100 square miles (238,537)
square kilometres).
Ghana is a lowland country, except for range of hills on the eastern border. The sandy coastline is backed by a coastal
plain that is crossed by several rivers and streams, generally navigable only by canoe. In the west the rain is broken by
heavily forested hills and many streams and rivers. To the north lies an undulating savanna that is drained by the Volta river,
which flows south to the sea through a narrow gap in the hills. Lake Volta, in the east, is one of the largest artificial
lakes in the world. Ghana's highest point, in the eastern hills, is about 2,900 feet (884 meters) above sea level.
The climate of Ghana is tropical, but temperatures vary with season and elevation.
Except in the north, two rainy seasons occur, from April to June and from September to November. In the north the rainy
season begins in March and lasts until September. Annual rainfall ranges from about 40 inches (1,015 millimetres) in the north
to about 80 inches (2,300 millimetres) in the south-east. The harmattan, a dry, north wind, blows from December to March lowering
the humidity and creating hot days and cool nights in the north. In the south the effects of the harmattan are felt in January.
In most areas the highest temperatures occur in March, the lowest in August. The average annual temperature is about 97F (26C
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On this page, we'll describe our experiences at one destination. Then we'll create additional pages like this one for each
of our other destinations (changing the title of each page to something more specific, of course).
We'll try to make this page a photo journal, rather than just a photo album. That is, we'll try to tell the story of our stay
using both words and pictures. Although this takes a little more effort than just posting photos, it gives a fuller sense
of our experience. (There will be lots more pictures on the photo album pages.)
Here are examples of the type of information
we may include on each of our destinations.
Where We Stayed
Big hotel? Quaint B and B? Cabin in the mountains? We'll describe it here, and include a picture or two.
Here we might include a description or map of where we stayed.
What We Did
Here we'll describe how we spent our days at this location and relate any amusing anecdotes.
What We Ate
Here we'll describe the delicious meals we had. Did we try something new? Was there something on the menu we wouldn't have
eaten on a dare?
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