Short facts about the geography of Sierra Leone

Location:

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia

Geographic coordinates:

8 30 N, 11 30 W

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total:  71,740 sq km land:  71,620 sq km water:  120 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than South Carolina

Land boundaries:

total:  958 km border countries:  Guinea 652 km, Liberia 306 km

Coastline:

402 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea:  200 NM continental shelf:  200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April)

Terrain:

coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau, mountains in east

Elevation extremes:

lowest point:  Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point:  Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m

Natural resources:

diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite

Land use:

arable land:  7% permanent crops:  1% permanent pastures:  31% forests and woodland:  28% other:  33% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land:

290 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards:

dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to February); sandstorms, dust storms

Environment - current issues:

rapid population growth pressuring the environment; overharvesting of timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and slash-and-burn agriculture have resulted in deforestation and soil exhaustion; civil war depleting natural resources; overfishing

Environment - international agreements:

party to:  Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Wetlands signed, but not ratified:  none of the selected agreements

Source: World Factbook