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Western Sahara
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Location:
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Map references:
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Area:
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Land boundaries:
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Coastline:
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Maritime claims:
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International disputes:
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Climate:
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Terrain:
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Natural resources:
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Land use:
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Irrigated land:
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Environment:
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Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and
Morocco
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Africa
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total area:
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266,000 sq km
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land area:
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266,000 sq km
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comparative area:
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slightly smaller than Colorado
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total 2,046 km, Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km
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1,110 km
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contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue
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claimed and administered by Morocco, but sovereignty is unresolved and the
UN is attempting to hold a referendum on the issue; the UN-administered
cease-fire has been currently in effect since September 1991
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hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and
heavy dew
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mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising
to small mountains in south and northeast
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phosphates, iron ore
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arable land:
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0%
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permanent crops:
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0%
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meadows and pastures:
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19%
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forest and woodland:
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0%
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other:
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81%
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NA sq km
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current issues:
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sparse water and arable land
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natural hazards:
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hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring;
widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting
visibility
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international agreements:
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NA