| Location | Central Africa, south of Libya |
|
| Geographic coordinates | 15 00 N, 19 00 E |
|
| Zone | Africa |
|
| Area | total: 1.284 million sq km
land: 1,259,200 sq km
water: 24,800 sq km |
|
| Land boundaries | total: 5,968 km
border countries: Cameroon 1,094 km, Central African Republic 1,197 km, Libya 1,055 km, Niger 1,175 km, Nigeria 87 km, Sudan 1,360 km |
|
| Coastline | 0 km (landlocked) |
|
| Maritime claims | none (landlocked) |
|
| Climate | tropical in south, desert in north |
|
| Terrain | broad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains in northwest, lowlands in south |
|
| Elevation extremes | lowest point: Djourab Depression 160 m
highest point: Emi Koussi 3,415 m |
|
| Natural resources | petroleum, uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad), gold, limestone, sand and gravel, salt |
|
| Irrigated land | 0 km (landlocked) |
|
| Natural hazards | hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north; periodic droughts; locust plagues |
|
Environment -
current issues | inadequate supplies of potable water; improper waste disposal in rural areas contributes to soil and water pollution; desertification |
|
Environment -
international agreements | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping |
|
| Geography - note | landlocked; Lake Chad is the most significant water body in the Sahel |
|
