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GEOGRAPHY
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone
total area: 111,370
sq km
comparative
area: slightly larger than Tennessee
Land
boundaries: total 1,585 km, Guinea 563 km, Cote d'Ivoire 716
km, Sierra Leone 306 km
International
disputes: none
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
Natural
resources: iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold
Irrigated
land: 20 sq km (1989 est.)
current issues: tropical
rain forest subject to deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity;
pollution of rivers from the dumping of iron ore tailings and
of coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage
natural hazards:
dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to March)
international agreements:
party to - Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, 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
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