Location: Western Africa, between Mauritania and Niger

Map references: Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World

Area:
total area: 1.24 million sq km
land area: 1.22 million sq km
comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Land boundaries: total 7,243 km, Algeria 1,376 km, Burkina 1,000 km, Guinea 858 km, Cote d'Ivoire 532 km, Mauritania 2,237 km, Niger 821 km, Senegal 419 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none; landlocked

International disputes: the disputed international boundary between Burkina and Mali was submitted to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in October 1983 and the ICJ issued its final ruling in December 1986, which both sides agreed to accept; Burkina and Mali are proceeding with boundary demarcation, including the tripoint with Niger

Climate: subtropical to arid; hot and dry February to June; rainy, humid, and mild June to November; cool and dry November to February

Terrain: mostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand; savanna in south, rugged hills in northeast

Natural resources: gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium, bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits are known but not exploited

Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 25%
forest and woodland: 7%
other: 66%

Irrigated land: 50 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:
current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; inadequate supplies of safe drinking water; poaching
natural hazards: hot, dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry seasons; recurring droughts
international agreements: party to - Law of the Sea, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban

Note: landlocked

NOTE: The information regarding Mali on this page is re-published from the 1995 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Mali Geography 1995 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Mali Geography 1995 should be addressed to the CIA.