The green, yellow, and blue horizontally divided flag was made official in 1960 at the time of independence. Green represents the luscious wildwoods, and blue, the rich rivers, the Atlantic Ocean, and that the nation is a maritime power. Gabon is where th Nobel Peace Prize winner French physician Albert Sheitzer carried out and promoted medicine, and it is said that his novel "The Primeval Forest" is reflected in the design of the flag.