Geography
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Nigeria and Togo
Geographic coordinates:
9 30 N, 2 15 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total area:
112,620 sq km
land area:
110,620 sq km
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries:
total:
1,989 km
border countries:
Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km
Coastline:
121 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea:
200 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Terrain:
mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains
lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Mount Tanekas 641 m
Natural resources:
small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber
Land use:
arable land:
12%
permanent crops:
4%
meadows and pastures:
4%
forest and woodland:
35%
other:
45%
Irrigated land:
60 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
recent droughts have severely affected marginal agriculture in north; inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification
natural hazards:
hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north in winter
international agreements:
party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea
Geographic note:
no natural harbors
