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