Ghana Geography
LocationWestern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo
Geographic coordinates
8 00 N, 2 00 W
Area
total: 239,460 sq km
land: 230,940 sq km
water: 8,520 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries
total: 2,094 km
border countries: Burkina Faso 549 km, Cote d'Ivoire 668 km, Togo 877 km
Coastline
539 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate
tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north
Terrain
mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Afadjato 880 m
Natural resources
gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower
Land use
arable land: 16.26%
permanent crops: 9.67%
other: 74.07% (2001)
Irrigated land
110 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards
dry, dusty, northeastern harmattan winds occur from January to March; droughts
Environment - current issues
recurrent drought in north severely affects agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water
Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note
Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake
