Geography of Sierra Leone
| Location: | Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia |
| Geographic coordinates: | 8 30 N, 11 30 W |
| Map references: | Africa |
| Area: | total: 71,740 sq km land: 71,620 sq km water: 120 sq km |
| Area - comparative: | slightly smaller than South Carolina |
| Land boundaries: | total: 958 km border countries: Guinea 652 km, Liberia 306 km |
| Coastline: | 402 km |
| Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm |
| Climate: | tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April) |
| Terrain: | coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau, mountains in east |
| Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m |
| Natural resources: | diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite |
| Land use: | arable land: 7.95% permanent crops: 1.05% other: 91% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: | 300 sq km (2003) |
| Natural hazards: | dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to February); sandstorms, dust storms |
| Environment - current issues: | rapid population growth pressuring the environment; overharvesting of timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and slash-and-burn agriculture have resulted in deforestation and soil exhaustion; civil war depleted natural resources; overfishing |
| Environment - international agreements: | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification |
| Geography - note: | rainfall along the coast can reach 495 cm (195 inches) a year, making it one of the wettest places along coastal, western Africa |