Sierra+Leone

Sierra Leone, Africa (left), & Billings, Montana (right).

=Sierra Leone:=

Average Yearly Rainfall- An average of 174.5 inches of rainfall per year and 14.5 inches per month.

Population- Recent estimate of 4,976,871 people.

Elevation- 4,000 to 6,000 feet.

Absolute Location- Latitudes are 7 and 10 degrees N, and Longitudes are 10.5 and 13 degrees W.

Place Information- Freetown has a lot of crimes because of Blood Diamond conflict, there used to be a war in the city because of people trying to smuggle diamonds for money; luckily the war was ended several years ago but there's still some conflict in and around the city.

Historical Fact- Sierra Leone became an independent nation on April 27, 1961. A military coup overthrew the civilian government in 1967, which was in turn replaced by civilian rule a year later. The country declared itself a republic on April 19, 1971.

Interesting Fact- The name of the country, which is Sierra Leone, comes from "serra leao". Meaning Lion Mountain Range in Portuguese.

When it was settled- In the late 1700's, free slaves from London and the United States were returned to this section of Africa, which is now known as Freetown.

Human Enviornment Interaction: There's a lot of conflict and fighting from the people in Freetown and Sierra Leone.

=Billings:=

Average Yearly Rainfall- An average of 14.77 inches per year in Billings.

Population- Largest city in Montana with a population of just under 100,000 people.

Elevation- About 4,000 feet above sea level.

Absolute Location- The absolute location of Billings is 46 degrees 35' N, 108 degrees 30' W.

Place Information- Billings is land-locked by mountains, which means it is surrounded by land and isn't next to an ocean or sea.

Historical Fact- In 1940 the United States Army Corps of Engineers completed Fort Peck, one of the largest earthfill dams in the world.

Interesting Fact- In 1888 Helena, Montana's state capital, had more millionaires than any other city in the world.

When it was settled- Billings was settled around the early 1880's because of the Northern Pacific Railroad coming into the area of Montana.

Human Enviornment Interaction- There is not much polution neither conflict in Billings. Beautiful ranches and mountains are the things you will see for most of the time if you visit Montana, there's also a very low chance that Billings would have as much conflict as Freetown does.

Venn diagram for Freetown, Sierra Leone and Billlings, Montana.

Freetown, Sierra Leone and Billings, Montana have a few things in common. Freetown was settled in the late 1700’s; free slaves from London and the United States were returned to this section of Africa that is now known as Freetown. But Billings never had slaves in the past like Freetown did. The people in Billings mostly spoke English and French, but residents in Freetown speak many languages, mainly French though. Populations in Freetown and Billings are both good in size, but most people do not know that Freetown has a much larger population than Billings! The population of Billings is just under 100,000 people. If you think that’s big then take a load of this: In a recent estimate the population of people in Freetown is just about 4,976,871! There is so much conflict in Freetown that some people have their hands and feet cut off and children are being brainwashed and are used for fighting in wars, yes, they even have those children hold guns and point them at innocent people! All of these deaths, brainwashing, slavery, and wars are caused by diamonds. But these diamonds aren’t any ordinary diamonds, the people in Freetown and other high conflict countries in Africa call the diamonds Blood Diamonds. There’s just one question to be asked and answered: Why are they fighting over Blood Diamonds and doing bad things to innocent people? The people that are used for finding these diamonds are paid very small portions of money for their hard work, and the people that are starting wars want the diamonds for money and they smuggle them, which is illegal, to other places around the world, even the United States. Both Freetown and Billings have high enough elevation levels, Freetown has an elevation level that starts at a 70-mile coastal belt of low-lying land, the country then rises to a mountain plateau near the eastern frontier that rises 4,000 to 6,000 feet with a rich forest region. The western area, on which the capital and main commercial centre of Freetown stands, is 24 miles long and 10 miles wide. While Billings has an elevation that is over about 4,000 feet above sea level and is surrounded by mountains. The average yearly rainfall in Billings isn’t really that much; Billings gets an estimate of 14.77 inches of rainfall per year. But Freetown receives an average of 174.5 inches of rainfall per year and every month they get 14.5 inches. The average temperature in Freetown is 80 degrees Fahrenheit, in Billings the highest temperature it can get is 38 degrees Fahrenheit. The absolute location for Billings is 46 degrees 35’ north and 108 degrees 30’ west. Although Freetown and Billings have different animals, people, location, and conflict they are great places for all people.

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