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Geography of Sierra Leone

Location:Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia
Geographic coordinates:8 30 N, 11 30 W
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 71,740 sq km
land: 71,620 sq km
water: 120 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries:total: 958 km
border countries: Guinea 652 km, Liberia 306 km
Coastline:402 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April)
Terrain:coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau, mountains in east
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m
Natural resources:diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite
Land use:arable land: 7.95%
permanent crops: 1.05%
other: 91% (2005)
Irrigated land:300 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to February); sandstorms, dust storms
Environment - current issues: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: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:rainfall along the coast can reach 495 cm (195 inches) a year, making it one of the wettest places along coastal, western Africa

Sierra Leone Quickstats

  • Population: 6,144,562 (July 2007 est.)
  • Area: 71,740 sq km
  • Density: 83 /km² (114th¹)
  • GDP (total): $4.921 billion (151st)
  • GDP (per capita): $903 (172nd)
  • Literacy: 35.1%

Languages of Sierra Leone

Useful to know

  • Currency: Leone (SLL)
  • Dial code: +232

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