Central African Republic Geography Profile 2009

Location

Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo

Geographic coordinates

7 00 N, 21 00 E

Map references

Africa

Area

total: 622,984 sq km
land: 622,984 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries

total: 5,203 km
border countries: Cameroon 797 km, Chad 1,197 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,577 km, Republic of the Congo 467 km, Sudan 1,165 km

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Climate

tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers

Terrain

vast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Oubangui River 335 m
highest point: Mont Ngaoui 1,420 m

Natural resources

diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil, hydropower

Land use

arable land: 3.1%
permanent crops: 0.15%
other: 96.75% (2005)

Irrigated land

20 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources

144.4 cu km (2003)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.03 cu km/yr (80%/16%/4%)
per capita: 7 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards

hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; floods are common

Environment - current issues

tap water is not potable; poaching has diminished the country's reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges; desertification; deforestation

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note

landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa