Congo, Republic of the

Congo, Republic of the Geography

Location
Western Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon

Geographic coordinates
1 00 S, 15 00 E

Area
total: 342,000 sq km
land: 341,500 sq km
water: 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: 0.51%
permanent crops: 0.13%
other: 99.36% (2001)

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



- Info Provided by the CIA World Factbook -