Short facts about the geography of Liberia

Location:

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone

Geographic coordinates:

6 30 N, 9 30 W

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total:  111,370 sq km land:  96,320 sq km water:  15,050 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Tennessee

Land boundaries:

total:  1,585 km border countries:  Guinea 563 km, Cote d'Ivoire 716 km, Sierra Leone 306 km

Coastline:

579 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea:  200 NM

Climate:

tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool to cold nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers

Terrain:

mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling plateau and low mountains in northeast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point:  Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point:  Mount Wuteve 1,380 m

Natural resources:

iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower

Land use:

arable land:  1% permanent crops:  3% permanent pastures:  59% forests and woodland:  18% other:  19% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land:

20 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards:

dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to March)

Environment - current issues:

tropical rain forest subject to deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage

Environment - international agreements:

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

Source: World Factbook