Short facts about the geography of Gabon

Location:

Western Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea

Geographic coordinates:

1 00 S, 11 45 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total:  267,667 sq km land:  257,667 sq km water:  10,000 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Colorado

Land boundaries:

total:  2,551 km border countries:  Cameroon 298 km, Republic of the Congo 1,903 km, Equatorial Guinea 350 km

Coastline:

885 km

Maritime claims:

contiguous zone:  24 NM exclusive economic zone:  200 NM territorial sea:  12 NM

Climate:

tropical; always hot, humid

Terrain:

narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and south

Elevation extremes:

lowest point:  Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point:  Mont Iboundji 1,575 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore, hydropower

Land use:

arable land:  1% permanent crops:  1% permanent pastures:  18% forests and woodland:  77% other:  3% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land:

40 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; poaching

Environment - international agreements:

party to:  Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified:  none of the selected agreements

Source: World Factbook