Location: | Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia |
| Geographic coordinates: | 8 30 N, 11 30 W |
| Map references: | Africa |
| Area: | total: 71,740 sq km
land: 71,620 sq km
water: 120 sq km |
| Area - comparative: | slightly smaller than South Carolina |
| Land boundaries: | total: 958 km
border countries: Guinea 652 km, Liberia 306 km |
| Coastline: | 402 km |
| Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
| Climate: | tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April) |
| Terrain: | coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau, mountains in east |
| Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m |
| Natural resources: | diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite |
| Land use: | arable land: 6.98%
permanent crops: 0.89%
other: 92.13% (2001) |
| Irrigated land: | 290 sq km (1998 est.) |
| Natural hazards: | dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to February); sandstorms, dust storms |
| Environment - current issues: | rapid population growth pressuring the environment; overharvesting of timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and slash-and-burn agriculture have resulted in deforestation and soil exhaustion; civil war depleting natural resources; overfishing |
| Environment - international agreements: | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification |
| Geography - note: | rainfall along the coast can reach 495 cm (195 inches) a year, making it one of the wettest places along coastal, western Africa
Source: CIA World Factbook
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