Location:
Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo
Geographic coordinates:
8 00 N, 2 00 W
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 238,533 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 227,533 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 11,000 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data):
83
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries:
total: 2,420 km
[see also: Land boundaries - total country ranks ]
border countries (3):
Burkina Faso 602 km, Cote d'Ivoire 720 km, Togo 1098 km
Coastline:
539 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12
nm
[see also: Maritime claims - territorial sea country ranks ]
exclusive economic zone: 200
nm
[see also: Maritime claims - exclusive economic zone country ranks ]
contiguous zone: 24
nm
[see also: Maritime claims - contiguous zone country ranks ]
continental shelf: 200
nm
[see also: Maritime claims - continental shelf country ranks ]
Climate:
tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north
More Climate Details
Terrain:
mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area
Elevation:
mean elevation: 190 m
[see also: Elevation - mean elevation country ranks ]
lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Mount Afadjato 885 m
Natural resources:
gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower, petroleum, silver, salt, limestone
Land use:
agricultural land: 69.1%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
arable land: 20.7%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 11.9%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
permanent pasture: 36.5%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent pasture country ranks ]
forest: 21.2%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 9.7%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use country ranks ]
Irrigated land:
340 sq km
(2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]
Population distribution:
population is concentrated in the southern half of the country, with the highest concentrations being on or near the Atlantic coast
Natural hazards:
dry, dusty, northeastern harmattan winds from January to March; droughts
Environment - current issues:
recurrent drought in north severely affects agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction threaten wildlife populations; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water
Environment - international agreements:
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:
Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:
Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake (manmade reservoir) by surface area (8,482 sq km; 3,275 sq mi); the lake was created following the completion of the Akosombo Dam in 1965, which holds back the White Volta and Black Volta Rivers
