Location: Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco
Geographic coordinates: 24 30 N, 13 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area:
total:
266,000 sq km
land:
266,000 sq km
water:
0 sq km
Area - comparative: about the size of Colorado
Land boundaries:
total:
2,046 km
border countries:
Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km
Coastline: 1,110 km
Maritime claims: contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue
Climate: hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew
Terrain: mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point:
Sebjet Tah -55 m
highest point:
unnamed location 463 m
Natural resources: phosphates, iron ore
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
permanent pastures:
19%
forests and woodland:
0%
other:
81%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility
Environment - current issues: sparse water and lack of arable land
Environment - international agreements:
party to:
none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
- See also : Western Sahara
