Introduction - Western Sahara: |
Location - Western Sahara: |
Location | Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco |
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Geographic coordinates | 24 30 N, 13 00 W |
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Map references | Africa |
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Area | total: 266,000 sq km
land: 266,000 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
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Area comparative | about the size of Colorado |
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Land boundaries | total: 2,046 km
border countries: Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km |
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Coastline | 1,110 km |
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Maritime claims | contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue |
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Climate | hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew |
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Terrain | mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast |
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Elevation extremes | lowest point: Sebjet Tah -55 m
highest point: unnamed location 463 m |
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Natural resources | phosphates, iron ore |
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Land use | arable land: 0.02%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 99.98% (2005) |
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Irrigated land | NA |
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Natural hazards | hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility |
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Environment current issues | sparse water and lack of arable land |
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Environment international agreements | party to: none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
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Geography note | the waters off the coast are particularly rich fishing areas |
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People - Western Sahara: |
Government - Western Sahara: |
Economy - Western Sahara: |
Communications - Western Sahara: |
Transportation - Western Sahara: |
Military - Western Sahara: |
This page was last updated on 16 September, 2007