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Location:
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Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone
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Geographic coordinates:
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6 30 N, 9 30 W
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Map references:
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africa
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Area:
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total: 111,370 sq km
water: 15,050 sq km
land: 96,320 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly larger than Tennessee
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Land boundaries:
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total: 1,585 km
border countries: Guinea 563 km, Cote d'Ivoire 716 km, Sierra Leone 306 km
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Coastline:
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579 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 200 nm
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Climate:
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tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool to cold nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers
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Terrain:
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mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling plateau and low mountains in northeast
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Wuteve 1,380 m
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Natural resources:
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iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower
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Land use:
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arable land: 3.95%
permanent crops: 2.28%
other: 93.77% (2001)
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Irrigated land:
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30 sq km (1998 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to March)
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Environment - current issues:
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tropical rain forest deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation
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Geography - note:
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facing the Atlantic Ocean, the coastline is characterized by lagoons, mangrove swamps, and river-deposited sandbars; the inland grassy plateau supports limited agriculture
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