GEOGRAPHY
Location:
Western Africa, southeast of Algeria
Geographic coordinates: 16 00 N, 8 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total area: 1.267 million sq km
land area: 1,266,700 sq km
comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of
Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 5,697 km
border countries: Algeria 956 km, Benin 266 km, Burkina
Faso 628 km, Chad 1,175 km, Libya 354 km, Mali 821 km, Nigeria
1,497 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
International disputes: Libya claims about 19,400 sq km in
northern Niger; demarcation of international boundaries in Lake
Chad, the lack of which has led to border incidents in the past,
is completed and awaiting ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger,
and Nigeria; Burkina Faso and Mali are proceeding with boundary
demarcation, including the tripoint with Niger
Climate: desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme
south
Terrain: predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat
to rolling plains in south; hills in north
lowest point: Niger River 200 m
highest point: Mont Greboun 1,944 m
Natural resources: uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates
Land use:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 7%
forest and woodland: 2%
other: 88%
Irrigated land: 320 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: overgrazing; soil erosion; deforestation;
desertification; wildlife populations (such as elephant, hippopotamus,
and lion) threatened because of poaching and habitat destruction
natural hazards: recurring droughts
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Nuclear
Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified
- Desertification, Law of the Sea
Geographic note: landlocked
