Short facts about the geography of Ghana

Location:

Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo

Geographic coordinates:

8 00 N, 2 00 W

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total:  238,540 sq km land:  230,020 sq km water:  8,520 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Oregon

Land boundaries:

total:  2,093 km border countries:  Burkina Faso 548 km, Cote d'Ivoire 668 km, Togo 877 km

Coastline:

539 km

Maritime claims:

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

Climate:

tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north

Terrain:

mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area

Elevation extremes:

lowest point:  Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point:  Mount Afadjato 880 m

Natural resources:

gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower

Land use:

arable land:  12% permanent crops:  7% permanent pastures:  22% forests and woodland:  35% other:  24% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land:

60 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards:

dry, dusty, harmattan winds occur from January to March; droughts

Environment - current issues:

recent drought in north severely affecting agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water

Environment - international agreements:

party to:  Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified:  Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:

Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake; northeasterly harmattan wind (January to March)

Source: World Factbook