| Geography | Sierra Leone |
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Location:
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Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia |
Geographic coordinates:
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8 30 N, 11 30 W |
Map references:
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Africa |
Area:
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total: 71,740 sq km
land: 71,620 sq km
water: 120 sq km |
Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than South Carolina |
Land boundaries:
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total: 958 km
border countries: Guinea 652 km, Liberia 306 km |
Coastline:
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402 km |
Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm |
Climate:
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tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April) |
Terrain:
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coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau, mountains in east |
Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m |
Natural resources:
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diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite |
Land use:
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arable land: 7.95%
permanent crops: 1.05%
other: 91% (2005) |
Irrigated land:
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300 sq km (2003) |
Total renewable water resources:
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160 cu km (1987) |
Total renewable water resources - per capita:
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24,845 cubic meters per capita |
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
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Total: 0.38 cu km/yr (5%/3%/92%)
Per capita: 69 cu m/yr (2000) |
Natural hazards:
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dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to February); sandstorms, dust storms |
Environment - current issues:
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rapid population growth pressuring the environment; overharvesting of timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and slash-and-burn agriculture have resulted in deforestation and soil exhaustion; civil war depleted natural resources; overfishing |
Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification |
Geography - note:
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rainfall along the coast can reach 495 cm (195 inches) a year, making it one of the wettest places along coastal, western Africa |
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