LocationWestern Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria Geographic coordinates6 00 N, 12 00 E Map referencesAfrica Areatotal: 475,440 sq km Area - comparativeslightly larger than California Land boundariestotal: 4,591 km Coastline402 km Maritime claimsterritorial sea: 12 nm Climatevaries with terrain, from tropical along coast to semiarid and hot in north Terraindiverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau in center, mountains in west, plains in north Elevation extremeslowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m Natural resourcespetroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower Land usearable land: 12.54% Irrigated land260 sq km (2003) Total renewable water resources285.5 cu km (2003) Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)total: 0.99 cu km/yr (18%/8%/74%) Natural hazardsvolcanic activity with periodic releases of poisonous gases from Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun volcanoes Environment - current issueswaterborne diseases are prevalent; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; poaching; overfishing Environment - international agreementsparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling Geography - notesometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa; throughout the country there are areas of thermal springs and indications of current or prior volcanic activity; Mount Cameroon, the highest mountain in Sub-Saharan west Africa, is an active volcano |
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Source: CIA World Factbook | |