Western SaharaGeography

Location:	Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco
Geographic coordinates:	24 30 N, 13 00 W
Map references:	Africa
Area:	total: 266,000 sq km land: 266,000 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:	about the size of Colorado
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
Land use:	arable land: 0.02% permanent crops: 0% other: 99.98% (2001)
Irrigated land:	NA sq 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

More about Western Sahara:

The World Factbook 2005, by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

Geography