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Location:
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Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco
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Geographic coordinates:
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24 30 N, 13 00 W
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Map references:
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Africa
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Area:
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total: 266,000 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 266,000 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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about the size of Colorado
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Land boundaries:
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total: 2,046 km
border countries: Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km
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Coastline:
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1,110 km
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Maritime claims:
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contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue
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Climate:
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hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew
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Terrain:
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mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Sebjet Tah -55 m
highest point: unnamed location 463 m
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Natural resources:
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phosphates, iron ore
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Land use:
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arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (1998 est.)
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Irrigated land:
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NA sq km
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Natural hazards:
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hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility
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Environment - current issues:
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sparse water and lack of arable land
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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Geography - note:
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the waters off the coast are particularly rich fishing areas
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