Congo, Republic of the: Geography

Geography

Congo, Republic of the

Location:	Western Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon
Geographic coordinates:	1 00 S, 15 00 E
Map references:	Africa
Area:	total: 342,000 sq km water: 500 sq km land: 341,500 sq km
Area - comparative:	slightly smaller than Montana
Land boundaries:	total: 5,504 km border countries: Angola 201 km, Cameroon 523 km, Central African Republic 467 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,410 km, Gabon 1,903 km
Coastline:	169 km
Maritime claims:	territorial sea: 200 NM
Climate:	tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October); constantly high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating climate astride the Equator
Terrain:	coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin
Elevation extremes:	lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Berongou 903 m
Natural resources:	petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, natural gas, hydropower
Land use:	arable land: 0.5% permanent crops: 0.13% other: 99.37% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:	10 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:	seasonal flooding
Environment - current issues:	air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from the dumping of raw sewage; tap water is not potable; deforestation
Environment - international agreements:	party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:	about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, or along the railroad between them