Location Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone

Geographic coordinates 6 30 N, 9 30 W

Map references Africa

Area
total: 111,370 sq km
water: 15,050 sq km
land: 96,320 sq km

Area - comparative slightly larger than Tennessee

Land boundaries
total: 1,585 km
border countries: Guinea 563 km, Cote d'Ivoire 716 km, Sierra Leone 306 km

Coastline 579 km

Maritime claims
territorial sea: 200 NM

Climate tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool to cold nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers

Terrain mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling plateau and low mountains in northeast

Elevation extremes
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Wuteve 1,380 m

Natural resources iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower

Land use
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 2%
other: 96% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land 30 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to March)

Environment - current issues tropical rain forest deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage

Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note facing the Atlantic Ocean, the coastline is characterized by lagoons, mangrove swamps, and river-deposited sandbars; the inland grassy plateau supports limited agriculture

NOTE: The information regarding Liberia on this page is re-published from the 2002 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Liberia Geography 2002 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Liberia Geography 2002 should be addressed to the CIA.