Short facts about the geography of Chad
| Location: |
Central Africa, south of
Libya |
| Geographic
coordinates: |
15 00 N, 19 00
E |
| Area: |
total: 1.284 million sq km
land: 1,259,200 sq
km
water: 24,800 sq km |
| Area -
comparative: |
slightly more than three times the size
of California |
| Land
boundaries: |
total: 5,968 km
border countries: Cameroon 1,094 km, Central
African Republic 1,197 km, Libya 1,055 km, Niger 1,175 km, Nigeria 87 km, Sudan
1,360 km |
| Coastline: |
0 km
(landlocked) |
| Maritime
claims: |
none
(landlocked) |
| Climate: |
tropical in south, desert in
north |
| Terrain: |
broad, arid plains in center, desert in
north, mountains in northwest, lowlands in
south |
| Elevation
extremes: |
lowest point:
Djourab Depression 160 m
highest point: Emi Koussi
3,415 m |
| Natural
resources: |
petroleum (unexploited but exploration
under way), uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake
Chad) |
| Land
use: |
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures:
36%
forests and woodland: 26%
other: 35% (1993
est.) |
| Irrigated
land: |
140 sq km (1993
est.) |
| Natural
hazards: |
hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur
in north; periodic droughts; locust plagues |
| Environment
- current issues: |
inadequate supplies of potable water;
improper waste disposal in rural areas contributes to soil and water pollution;
desertification |
| Environment
- international agreements: |
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not
ratified: Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping |
| Geography -
note: |
landlocked; Lake Chad is the most
significant water body in the Sahel | Source: World Factbook |
