Geography of Liberia
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| Republic of Liberia |
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History · Politics · Demographics |
Liberia is a large Sub-Saharan nation in West Africa located at 6 °N, 9 °W. The country is shaped like a rectangle, with a shape similar to El Salvador. It borders the north Atlantic Ocean to the southwest (579 km of coastline) and three other African nations on the other three sides. The total length of Liberia’s land borders is 1,587 km: 306 km with Sierra Leone on the northwest, 563 km with Guinea to the north, and 716 km with Côte d'Ivoire. In total, Liberia comprises 111,370 km² of which 96,320 km² is land and 15,050 km² is water, making the country slightly smaller than the U.S. state of Washington.
Liberia currently claims a territorial sea of 200 nautical miles (370 km).
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[edit] Terrain
Liberia has a mostly hilly terrain, from rolling plains along the coast to a rolling plateau and low mountains in the northeast. The lowest elevation is sea level on the coast; the highest point is Mount Wuteve, at 1,440 m.
[edit] Climate
tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool to cold nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers
[edit] Natural resources
iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower
[edit] Land use and agriculture
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 3%
permanent pastures: 59%
forests and woodland: 18%
other: 19% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 20 km² (1993 est.)
[edit] Natural hazards
Dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to March).
[edit] Pollution and environmental issues
tropical rain forest subject to deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Desertification, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
