Short facts about the geography of Togo

Location:

Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Benin and Ghana

Geographic coordinates:

8 00 N, 1 10 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total:  56,785 sq km land:  54,385 sq km water:  2,400 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than West Virginia

Land boundaries:

total:  1,647 km border countries:  Benin 644 km, Burkina Faso 126 km, Ghana 877 km

Coastline:

56 km

Maritime claims:

exclusive economic zone:  200 NM territorial sea:  30 NM

Climate:

tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

Terrain:

gently rolling savanna in north; central hills; southern plateau; low coastal plain with extensive lagoons and marshes

Elevation extremes:

lowest point:  Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point:  Mont Agou 986 m

Natural resources:

phosphates, limestone, marble, arable land

Land use:

arable land:  38% permanent crops:  7% permanent pastures:  4% forests and woodland:  17% other:  34% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land:

70 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards:

hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in north during winter; periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:

deforestation attributable to slash-and-burn agriculture and the use of wood for fuel; water pollution presents health hazards and hinders the fishing industry; air pollution increasing in urban areas

Environment - international agreements:

party to:  Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, 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