Robertsport
| Robertsport | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Robertsport Location in Liberia | |
| Coordinates: 6°45′N 11°22′W / 6.750°N 11.367°W | |
| Country |
 Liberia |
| County | Grand Cape Mount County |
| District | Commonwealth District |
| Population (2008) | |
| • Total | 3,933 |
Robertsport, also known as Roberts Port and Robert's Port, is a town in western Liberia, about 10 miles from the Sierra Leone border. It is named after Joseph Jenkins Roberts, the first president of Liberia.[1]
The town lies on Cape Mount peninsula, and is separated from the mainland by Lake Piso. It serves as the capital of Grand Cape Mount County. Robertsport is located 50 km north of Monrovia, Liberia's capital city.
Demographics
As of the 2008 census, Robertsport has a population of 3,933. Of this, 1,994 were male and 1,939 female.[2]
History
In the mid-15th century, the Portuguese navigator Pedro de Sintra reached the cape, a 1,000-foot high granite promontory, which he named Cabo do Monte (Cape Mount). In the early 19th century, a colony of African American freed slaves settled the site, which was then part of the Vai territory.[1]
It was an Allied Forces Air Force base in World War II and later became a seaside resort known for surfing.
Geography
Robertsport's coast contains five points, including three main points known for surfing: Fisherman's Point, closest to town; Cotton Trees; and Cassava Point.[3]
In 2009, Liberia's most experienced surfer, Alfred Lomax, took a reporter to see what he considered the best surfing spots; from Luke Leitch's Times of London report: "'This here,' he says pointing out to the waves surging down the beach, 'we call this Camp Point. Then, up the beach, is Cutting Point — that’s where they break both ways. The next point is Loco and the one after that is Shipwreck.' ... 'The waves here get fine, playful. When they are high, March to October, they can be 20ft high and you get good barrels, sliding waves. You can ride one wave for a long, long time.'"[4]
Nearby towns and villages include Bassa Community (0.6 nm), Kru Town (0.3 nm), Bombotown (0.3 nm) and Gomboja (0.3 nm).
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_p0575_LIBERIA%2C_CAPE_MOUNT_RIVER.jpg)
Map of Robertsport (1884)
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Cape Mount Bay
-
Church in Robertsport, seen in 2009
Town life
Liberia is a war torn country. Despite looting, the town has remained structurally intact. The town's architecture includes now-decrepit, plantation-style houses reminiscent of the Southern United States - a historical influence on Liberia - which line wide avenues that lean against the hills on the town's edge.[3]
Robertsport residents are mainly fishermen and rice farmers.[1]
The town is featured in the independent documentary film, Sliding Liberia, which follows four young surfers to war-torn Liberia in search of perfect waves. The film also explores the country's social and political unrest.[5]
Climate
| Climate data for Robertsport | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 31 (88) |
32 (89) |
32 (90) |
32 (89) |
32 (89) |
29 (85) |
27 (80) |
27 (80) |
28 (82) |
29 (85) |
31 (87) |
31 (87) |
30.1 (85.9) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 22 (71) |
22 (72) |
23 (73) |
23 (74) |
23 (74) |
23 (73) |
23 (73) |
22 (71) |
22 (72) |
22 (72) |
22 (72) |
22 (71) |
22.4 (72.3) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 38 (1.5) |
5 (0.2) |
18 (0.7) |
180 (7.1) |
250 (10) |
485 (19.1) |
803 (31.6) |
927 (36.5) |
927 (36.5) |
371 (14.6) |
114 (4.5) |
84 (3.3) |
4,202 (165.6) |
| Source: Weatherbase [6] | |||||||||||||
Weather
The town gets very heavy rainfall, averaging 205 inches (5,200 mm) per year.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Robertsport", Britannica Online Encyclopedia
- ↑ "2008 National Population and Housing Census: Preliminary Results" (PDF). Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services. Government of the Republic of Liberia. June 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-15.
- 1 2 Kate Thomas, "Surfing Liberia", October 2007, Lonely Planet
- ↑ Leitch, Luke. "Alfred Lomax: the man who could be Liberia's first professional surfer." The Times (London). May 27, 2009
- ↑ Sliding Liberia website
- ↑ "Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Robertsport, Liberia". Weatherbase. 2011. Retrieved on November 24, 2011.
External links
Media related to Robertsport at Wikimedia Commons
Coordinates: 6°45′N 11°22′W / 6.750°N 11.367°W