GEOGRAPHY
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola
and Gabon
Geographic
coordinates: 1 00 S, 15 00 E
Map
references: Africa
Area:
total: 342,000 sq km
land: 341,500 sq km
water: 500 sq km
Area—comparative:
slightly smaller than Montana
Land
boundaries:
total: 5,504 km
border countries: Angola 201 km, Cameroon 523 km, Central
African Republic 467 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,410
km, Gabon 1,903 km
Coastline:
169 km
Maritime
claims:
territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October);
constantly high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating
climate astride the Equator
Terrain:
coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin
Elevation
extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Berongou 903 m
Natural
resources: petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium,
copper, phosphates, natural gas
Land
use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 29%
forests and woodland: 62%
other: 9% (1993 est.)
Irrigated
land: 10 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural
hazards: seasonal flooding
Environment—current
issues: air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution
from the dumping of raw sewage; tap water is not potable; deforestation
Environment—international
agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: Desertification, Law of the
Sea
Geography—note: about 70% of the population lives in
Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, or along the railroad between them.
