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Location:
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Western Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea
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Geographic coordinates:
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1 00 S, 11 45 E
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Map references:
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africa
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Area:
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total: 267,667 sq km
water: 10,000 sq km
land: 257,667 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Colorado
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Land boundaries:
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total: 2,551 km
border countries: Cameroon 298 km, Republic of the Congo 1,903 km, Equatorial Guinea 350 km
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Coastline:
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885 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
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Climate:
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tropical; always hot, humid
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Terrain:
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narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and south
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Iboundji 1,575 m
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Natural resources:
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petroleum, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore, hydropower
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Land use:
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arable land: 1.26%
permanent crops: 0.66%
other: 98.08% (2001)
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Irrigated land:
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150 sq km (1998 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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NA
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Environment - current issues:
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deforestation; poaching
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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Geography - note:
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a small population and oil and mineral reserves have helped Gabon become one of Africa's wealthier countries; in general, these circumstances have allowed the country to maintain and conserve its pristine rain forest and rich biodiversity
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