Geographic coordinates: 7 00 N, 21 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total:
622,984 km²
land:
622,984 km²
water:
0 km²
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:
total:
5,203 km
border countries:
Cameroon 797 km, Chad 1,197 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,577 km, Republic of the Congo 467 km, Sudan 1,165 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers
Terrain: vast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest
Elevation extremes:
lowest point:
Oubangui River 335 m
highest point:
Mont Ngaoui 1,420 m
Natural resources: diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil, hydropower
Land use:
arable land:
3%
permanent crops:
0%
permanent pastures:
5%
forests and woodland:
75%
other:
17% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA km²
Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; floods are common
Environment - current issues: tap water is not potable; poaching has diminished its reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges; desertification; deforestation
Environment - international agreements:
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified:
Law of the Sea
Geography - note: landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa