Location: | Central Africa, south of Libya |
| Geographic coordinates: | 15 00 N, 19 00 E |
| Map references: | Africa |
| Area: | total: 1.284 million sq km
water: 24,800 sq km
land: 1,259,200 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, uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad) |
| Land use: | arable land: 2.86%
permanent crops: 0.02%
other: 97.12% (2001) |
| Irrigated land: | 200 sq km (1998 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, 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 Factbook
|
