Location: | Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Benin and Ghana |
| Geographic coordinates: | 8 00 N, 1 10 E |
| Map references: | Africa |
| Area: | total: 56,785 sq km
water: 2,400 sq km
land: 54,385 sq km |
| Area - comparative: | slightly smaller than West Virginia |
| Land boundaries: | total: 1,647 km
border countries: Benin 644 km, Burkina Faso 126 km, Ghana 877 km |
| Coastline: | 56 km |
| Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 30 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
| Climate: | tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north |
| Terrain: | gently rolling savanna in north; central hills; southern plateau; low coastal plain with extensive lagoons and marshes |
| Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Agou 986 m |
| Natural resources: | phosphates, limestone, marble, arable land |
| Land use: | arable land: 46.15%
permanent crops: 2.21%
other: 51.64% (2001) |
| Irrigated land: | 70 sq km (1998 est.) |
| Natural hazards: | hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in north during winter; periodic droughts |
| Environment - current issues: | deforestation attributable to slash-and-burn agriculture and the use of wood for fuel; water pollution presents health hazards and hinders the fishing industry; air pollution increasing in urban areas |
| Environment - international agreements: | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
| Geography - note: | the country's length allows it to stretch through six distinct geographic regions; climate varies from tropical to savanna
Source: CIA World Factbook
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