Location: Central Africa, south of Libya
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 19 00 E
Area:
total: 1.284 million sq km
land: 1,259,200
sq km
water: 24,800 sq km
Area?comparative: slightly more than three times the size of
California
Land boundaries:
total: 5,968 km
border
countries: Cameroon 1,094 km, Central African Republic 1,197 km, Libya 1,055
km, Niger 1,175 km, Nigeria 87 km, Sudan 1,360 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: tropical in south, desert in north
Terrain: broad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains in
northwest, lowlands in south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Djourab Depression 160 m
highest point: Emi Koussi 3,415 m
Natural resources: petroleum (unexploited but exploration under way),
uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad)
Land use:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 36%
forests and woodland: 26%
other: 35% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 140 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north;
periodic droughts; locust plagues
Environment?current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water;
improper waste disposal in rural areas contributes to soil and water pollution;
desertification
Environment?international agreements:
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law
of the Sea, Marine Dumping
Geography?note: landlocked; Lake Chad is the most significant water
body in the Sahel
Source: CIA World Fact Book
