Short facts about the geography of Cameroon
| Location: |
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of
Biafra, between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria |
| Geographic
coordinates: |
6 00 N, 12 00
E |
| Area: |
total: 475,440 sq km
land: 469,440 sq km
water:
6,000 sq km |
| Area -
comparative: |
slightly larger than
California |
| Land
boundaries: |
total: 4,591 km
border countries: Central African Republic 797
km, Chad 1,094 km, Republic of the Congo 523 km, Equatorial Guinea 189 km, Gabon
298 km, Nigeria 1,690 km |
| Maritime
claims: |
territorial sea:
50 NM |
| Climate: |
varies with terrain, from tropical
along coast to semiarid and hot in north |
| Terrain: |
diverse, with coastal plain in
southwest, dissected plateau in center, mountains in west, plains in
north |
| Elevation
extremes: |
lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Fako 4,095
m |
| Natural
resources: |
petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber,
hydropower |
| Land
use: |
arable land: 13%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures:
4%
forests and woodland: 78%
other: 3% (1993
est.) |
| Irrigated
land: |
210 sq km (1993
est.) |
| Natural
hazards: |
recent volcanic activity with release
of poisonous gases |
| Environment
- current issues: |
water-borne diseases are prevalent;
deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; poaching;
overfishing |
| Environment
- international agreements: |
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test
Ban |
| Geography -
note: |
sometimes referred to as the hinge of
Africa | Source: World Factbook |
