Gabon

What It Covers

Gabon's history from prehistoric pygmy settlements through Portuguese contact, French colonization, independence in 1960, and its emergence as mainland Africa's highest per capita GDP nation.

Key Questions Answered

• •Natural nuclear reactor: The Okalo Mine contains the only known natural nuclear fission reaction on Earth, occurring 1.7 billion years ago when uranium-235 concentrations were sufficient for sustained chain reactions.
• •Biodiversity preservation: Gabon maintains 89% rainforest coverage across 257,670 square kilometers, protecting half the world's African forest elephants plus significant chimpanzee and gorilla populations in dense equatorial forests.
• •Post-colonial stability: Despite authoritarian rule and election fraud accusations, Gabon avoided civil war and achieved $25,000 per capita GDP through oil production, manganese mining, and 2.5-3% annual economic growth rates.