| 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 |
| 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
: 19%
permanent crops: 24%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 47%
other: 10% (1993 est.) |
| 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 arable land |
Environment
international agreements |
party to: none
of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |