Rivers StateΒ is one of the 36Β statesΒ ofΒ Nigeria. Its capital isΒ Port Harcourt. It is bounded on the South by theΒ Atlantic Ocean, to the North by Imo,Β AbiaΒ andΒ AnambraΒ States, to the East byΒ Akwa IbomΒ State and to the West byΒ BayelsaΒ andΒ DeltaΒ states. Rivers state is home to many ethnic groups:Β Ikwerre,Β Igbo,Β Ijaw,Β Kalabari,Β Etche,Β Ogba,Β OgoniΒ and others.
The inland part of Rivers state consists ofΒ tropical rainforest; towards the coast the typicalΒ Niger DeltaΒ environment features many mangrove swamps.
Rivers state, named after the many rivers that border its territory, was part of theΒ Oil Rivers ProtectorateΒ from 1885 till 1893, when it became part of theΒ Niger Coast Protectorate. In 1900 the region was merged with the chartered territories of theΒ Royal Niger CompanyΒ to form the colony ofΒ 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.