Geography of Western Sahara
| Geography of Western Sahara | |
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| Continent | Africa |
| Region | North Africa |
| Coordinates | 24°30′N 13°00′W / 24.5°N 13°WCoordinates: 24°30′N 13°00′W / 24.5°N 13°W |
| Area | Ranked 77th 266,000 km2 |
| Coastline | 1,110 km |
| Borders | 2,046 km (Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km) |
| Highest point | unnamed elevation 805 m |
| Lowest point | Sebjet Tah, -55 m |
Western Sahara is a territory in Northern Africa, bordered by the North Atlantic Ocean, Morocco proper, Algeria (Tindouf region), and Mauritania. Geographic coordinates: 24°30′N 13°00′W / 24.5°N 13°W
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[edit] Size
Total: 266,060 km²
- land: 266,000 km²
- water: 0 km²
- Coastline: 1,110 km;
- Land boundaries: 2,046 km
- Saguia el-Hamra is the northern third with the city El Aaiún.
- Río de Oro is the southern two-thirds (south of Cape Bojador), with the city Dakhla.
The peninsula in the extreme southwest, with the city of Lagouira, is called Ras Nouadhibou, Cap Blanc, or Cabo Blanco. The eastern side is part of Mauritania.
Maritime claims: contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue
[edit] Land
[edit] Terrain
The terrain is 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
[edit] Natural resources
phosphates, iron ore, fishing resources on Atlantic Ocean coast
[edit] Land use
Arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 19%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 81%
Irrigated land: NA km²
[edit] 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. Flash flooding occurs during spring months.
[edit] Environment
[edit] Climate
It has a climate that is hot, dry desert; cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew.
[edit] Current issues
sparse water and lack of arable land
[edit] Extreme points
This is a list of the extreme points of Western Sahara, the points that are farther north, south, east or west than any other location.
- Northern-most point – the border with Morocco*
- Eastern-most point – the northern section of the border with Mauritania/Algeria**
- Southern-most point – the southern tip of Ras Nouadhibou/(Cap Blanc)
- Western-most point - Cape Dubouchage on Ras Nouadhibou
- *Note: Western Sahara does not have a northern-most point, the border being formed by a straight horizontal line
- **Note: Western Sahara does not have an eastern-most point, the border being formed by a straight vertical line
