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Location:
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Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo
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Geographic coordinates:
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7 00 N, 21 00 E
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Map references:
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africa
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Area:
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total: 622,984 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 622,984 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Texas
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Land boundaries:
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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
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Coastline:
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0 km (landlocked)
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Maritime claims:
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none (landlocked)
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Climate:
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tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers
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Terrain:
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vast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Oubangui River 335 m
highest point: Mont Ngaoui 1,420 m
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Natural resources:
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diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil, hydropower
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Land use:
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arable land: 3.1%
permanent crops: 0.14%
other: 96.76% (2001)
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Irrigated land:
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NA sq km
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Natural hazards:
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hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; floods are common
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Environment - current issues:
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tap water is not potable; poaching has diminished the country's reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges; desertification; deforestation
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
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Geography - note:
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landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa
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