Trivia in Côte d'Ivoire

National symbols

Flag: Vertical tricolor of orange, white, and green. Green represents hope and forests, white peace, and orange national vitality.

Emblem: Coat of arms with elephant head at center surrounded by sun and palm tree. Elephant derives from country name, sun represents national hope.

Trivia & facts

• Country name means "Ivory Coast"; since 1986 requesting French name usage worldwide
• World's largest basilica Notre-Dame de la Paix has dome taller than Vatican's St. Peter's
• Cocoa production accounts for approximately 40% world share, ranking first
• Among few African countries with four-lane highway network; Abidjan-Yamoussoukro about 2 hours
• Wild Nile crocodiles kept in moat before presidential palace in Yamoussoukro as tourist attraction
• Smartphone payment "Mobile Money" penetration over 70% in urban areas
• Copyright protection period of 99 years after death, second longest in world
• Famous as superior producing region for Robusta coffee variety
• Traditional Goli dance uses different masks for daytime and nighttime
• Cashew nut street sales flourish late January through March