Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cote d'Ivoire
and Sierra Leone
Geographic coordinates:
6 30 N, 9 30 W
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total:
111,370 sq km
land:
96,320 sq km
water:
15,050 sq km
Area—comparative:
slightly larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries:
total:
1,585 km
border countries:
Guinea 563 km, Cote d'Ivoire 716 km, Sierra Leone 306 km
Coastline:
579 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea:
200 nm
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool to cold nights;
wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers
Terrain:
mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling plateau and low
mountains in northeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Mount Wuteve 1,380 m
Natural resources:
iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold
Land use:
arable land:
1%
permanent crops:
3%
permanent pastures:
59%
forests and woodland:
18%
other:
19% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land:
20 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards:
dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to March)
Environment—current issues:
tropical rain forest subject to deforestation; soil erosion; loss of
biodiversity; pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage
Environment—international agreements:
party to:
Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea,
Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
Source: CIA World Fact Book
