Rivers StateĀ is one of the 36Ā statesĀ ofĀ Nigeria. Its capital isĀ Port Harcourt. It is bounded on the South by theĀ Atlantic Ocean, to the North by Imo,Ā AbiaĀ andĀ AnambraĀ States, to the East byĀ Akwa IbomĀ State and to the West byĀ BayelsaĀ andĀ DeltaĀ states. Rivers state is home to many ethnic groups:Ā Ikwerre,Ā Igbo,Ā Ijaw,Ā Kalabari,Ā Etche,Ā Ogba,Ā OgoniĀ and others.
The inland part of Rivers state consists ofĀ tropical rainforest; towards the coast the typicalĀ Niger DeltaĀ environment features many mangrove swamps.
Rivers state, named after the many rivers that border its territory, was part of theĀ Oil Rivers ProtectorateĀ from 1885 till 1893, when it became part of theĀ Niger Coast Protectorate. In 1900 the region was merged with the chartered territories of theĀ Royal Niger CompanyĀ to form the colony ofĀ Southern Nigeria.
Rivers State has one of the largest economies in Nigeria, mainly because of its crude oil. The State has two major refineries, two major seaports, airports, and various industrial estates spread across the state, particularly in the State capital.