GEOGRAPHY
The
Central African Republic is bordered to the north by Chad, to
the east by Sudan, to the south by the Democratic Republic of
Congo and the Republic of Congo and to the west by Cameroon. It
is a large, landlocked territory of mostly uninhabited forest,
bush and game reserves. The Chari River cuts through the centre
from east to west; towards the Cameroon border the landscape rises
to 2000m (6560ft) west of Bocaranga in the northwest corner, while
the southwest has dense tropical rainforest. Most of the country
is rolling or flat plateau covered with dry deciduous forest,
except where it has been reduced to grass savannah or destroyed
by bush fire. The northeast becomes desert scrubland and mountainous
in parts.
Area:
622,984 sq. km. (242,000 sq. mi.); slightly smaller than Texas.
Cities: Capital--Bangui (Pop. 690,000). Other cities--Berberati
(41,891), Bouar (39,676), Bambari (38,633), Bangassou (24,450),
Bossangoa (31,502), Mbaiki (16,901), and Carnot (31,324).
Terrain: Rolling plain 600-700 meters (1,980-2,310 ft.)
above sea level; scattered hills in northeast and southwest.
Climate: Tropical, ranging from humid equatorial in the
south to Sahelo-Sudanese in the north; hot, dry winters with mild
to hot, wet summers.
