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

Geographic coordinates 1 00 S, 15 00 E

Map references Africa

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

Land use
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 29%
forests and woodland: 62%
other: 9% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land 10 sq km (1993 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, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: Desertification, Law of the Sea

Geography - note about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe Noire, or along the railroad between them

NOTE: The information regarding Congo, Republic of the on this page is re-published from the 1998 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Congo, Republic of the Geography 1998 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Congo, Republic of the Geography 1998 should be addressed to the CIA.