GEOGRAPHY
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Benin and
Cameroon
Geographic coordinates: 10 00 N, 8 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total area: 923,770 sq km
land area: 910,770 sq km
comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of
California
Land boundaries:
total: 4,047 km
border countries: Benin 773 km, Cameroon 1,690 km, Chad
87 km, Niger 1,497 km
Coastline: 853 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 30 nm
International disputes: demarcation of international boundaries
in vicinity of Lake Chad, the lack of which led to border incidents
in the past, is completed and awaits ratification by Cameroon,
Chad, Niger, and Nigeria; dispute with Cameroon over land and
maritime boundaries in the vicinity of the Bakasi Peninsula has
been referred to the ICJ
Climate: varies; equatorial in south, tropical in center,
arid in north
Terrain: southern lowlands merge into central hills and
plateaus; mountains in southeast, plains in north
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Chappal Waddi 2,419 m
Natural resources: petroleum, tin, columbite, iron ore,
coal, limestone, lead, zinc, natural gas
Land use:
arable land: 31%
permanent crops: 3%
meadows and pastures: 23%
forest and woodland: 15%
other: 28%
Irrigated land: 8,650 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: soil degradation; rapid deforestation;
desertification; recent droughts in north severely affecting marginal
agricultural activities
natural hazards: periodic droughts
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,
Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Desertification
