Cameroon is a country rich in human as well as geographical and natural diversity. It is also rich in natural resources. However, internal as well as external threats mean most of the country is still reeling in poverty. Nonetheless, Cameroon is a beautiful and important county in Central and Western Africa.
Although French and English are the country's official languages, due to the country's large ethnic diversity there are more than 230 languages spoken in some form in Cameroon.
Cameroon contains two of the three exploding lakes in the world, Lake Monoun and Lake Nyos. These are lakes that contain a reserve of carbon dioxide in their waters in the form of magma underneath the water.
In 1986, due to a landslide, the carbon dioxide of Lake Nyos evaporated suffocating the people nearby. In total, 1,746 people were dead and it was the first-known large-scale asphyxiation caused by a natural phenomena.
Mount Cameroon is an active volcano and the highest point in Sub-Saharan Western and Central Africa. Eruptions from the volcano may have been recorded as early as 5th Century BC. The latest eruption was in 2012.
The Goliath Frog is the largest frog on earth. It is found in the rivers of Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea and can reach a size of 13 inches and weigh up to 7.2 pounds.
Cameroonian weddings are grand occasions. The groom's family has to pay the bride's family a dowry in a unique ritual involving the guessing of the bride by the groom. The entertainment isn't skimped on and the attires are something to be seen.
Paul Biya is the longest serving head-of-state currently ruling in the world after he became Prime Minister in 1975. However, in his current reign as President, which he became in 1982, he is the second longest serving President.
Ambazonia, also unofficially known as the Southern Cameroons is a breakaway state within Cameroon. Although, it is not recognized by any country. This has led to an ongoing crisis in the region known as the Anglophone crisis.
This crisis has its origins in 1961 when the Southern Cameroons was reluctantly integrated into the nation of Cameroon. Ambazonia states that Cameroon has broken its promises and is illegally occupying the territory.
Cameroon is one of the most successful footballing nations in Africa. It has won five African Cup of Nations, gold medal at the 2000 Olympics.
It is the first African country to reach the quarterfinals of the World Cup in 1990.