Geography of Western Sahara (original) (raw)

**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