town, western Guinea, West Africa, near the Amaria Dam on the Konkouré River. The Fria Company's bauxite-reducing factory at nearby Kimbo was one of Africa's first alumina-processing plants and is Guinea's largest industrial enterprise. Bauxite deposits were discovered in 1954, and alumina was first exported in 1960 via rail to Conakry, 55 mi (88 km 【91 mi by rail】) south. The site of the largest technical training school in the country, Fria also has a hospital, a stadium, a mosque, and a Roman Catholic mission (1959). The town is also the chief trade centre for a region inhabited mainly by the Susu (Soussou) people. Pop. (1996) 44,369.