Geography of Congo Republic
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); persistent 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, gold, magnesium, natural gas, hydropower |
Land use: | arable land: 1.45% permanent crops: 0.15% other: 98.4% (2005) |
Irrigated land: | 20 sq km (2003) |
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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea |
Geography - note: | about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, or along the railroad between them |