Short facts about the geography of Central African Republic
| Location: |
Central Africa, north of Democratic
Republic of the Congo |
| Geographic
coordinates: |
7 00 N, 21 00
E |
| Area: |
total: 622,984 sq km
land: 622,984 sq km
water: 0
sq km |
| Area -
comparative: |
slightly smaller than
Texas |
| Land
boundaries: |
total: 5,203 km
border countries: Cameroon 797 km, Chad 1,197 km,
Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,577 km, Republic of the Congo 467 km, Sudan
1,165 km |
| Coastline: |
0 km
(landlocked) |
| Maritime
claims: |
none
(landlocked) |
| Climate: |
tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to
hot, wet summers |
| Terrain: |
vast, flat to rolling, monotonous
plateau; scattered hills in northeast and
southwest |
| Elevation
extremes: |
lowest point:
Oubangui River 335 m
highest point: Mont Ngaoui
1,420 m |
| Natural
resources: |
diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil,
hydropower |
| Land
use: |
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures:
5%
forests and woodland: 75%
other: 17% (1993
est.) |
| Natural
hazards: |
hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect
northern areas; floods are common |
| Environment
- current issues: |
tap water is not potable; poaching has
diminished its reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges;
desertification; deforestation |
| Environment
- international agreements: |
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 94
signed,
but not ratified: Law of the Sea |
| Geography -
note: |
landlocked; almost the precise center
of Africa | Source: World Factbook |
