Cote d’Ivoire Geography

What is the terrain and geography like in Cote d’Ivoire?

Overview

The southern third of the country is largely covered by tropical rain forest. A network of interconnecting lagoons parallels the coast from the Ghanaian border 322 kilometers (200 miles) westward. Important cash crops are grown in the forest belt, but to the north lies a savanna area of lateritic soil where vegetation becomes more sparse. In the northwest, the Man Mountains, ascending to 1,400 meters (4,600 feet), break the rolling inland plain that rises from the sea to about 300 meters (1,000 feet) in the north. Four rivers, the Cavally, Sassandra, Bandama, and Comoe, flow from north to south.

Geography - note

most of the inhabitants live along the sandy coastal region; apart from the capital area, the forested interior is sparsely populated

Climate

In the south, the tropical climate keeps temperatures between 24°C (75°F) and 32°C (90°F). The southern region features two rainy seasons, May to July and September to December. Humidity averages 85%. Over half the average annual precipitation (208 cm or 82 inches in Abidjan) falls in May, June, and July. Even then, however, the sun often shines. Temperatures vary in the north from 24°C to over 37°C (100°F). The northern region's one rainy season, May-October, averages 130 cm (51 inches) annual rainfall with 71% average humidity.

Cote d’Ivoire Use of Natural Resources

Cote d’Ivoire Environment

Climate:

In the south, the tropical climate keeps temperatures between 24°C (75°F) and 32°C (90°F). The southern region features two rainy seasons, May to July and September to December. Humidity averages 85%. Over half the average annual precipitation (208 cm or 82 inches in Abidjan) falls in May, June, and July. Even then, however, the sun often shines. Temperatures vary in the north from 24°C to over 37°C (100°F). The northern region's one rainy season, May-October, averages 130 cm (51 inches) annual rainfall with 71% average humidity.

Terrain:

mostly flat to undulating plains; mountains in northwest

Natural Resources:

petroleum, natural gas, diamonds, manganese, iron ore, cobalt, bauxite, copper, hydropower

Natural Hazards:

coast has heavy surf and no natural harbors; during the rainy season torrential flooding is possible

Irrigated Land:

281 Square Miles
728 Square Kilometers

Environmental Issues:

deforestation (most of the country's forests - once the largest in West Africa - have been heavily logged); water pollution from sewage and industrial and agricultural effluents

Environment - International Agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Cote d’Ivoire Geography

Geographic Location Africa
Total Area 124,503 Square Miles
322,463 Square Kilometers
Land Area 122,781 Square Miles
318,003 Square Kilometers
Water Area 1,722 Square Miles
4,460 Square Kilometers
Land Boundaries 1,932 Miles
3,110 Kilometers
Irrigated Land 281 Square Miles
728 Square Kilometers
Border Countries Burkina Faso 584 km, Ghana 668 km, Guinea 610 km, Liberia 716 km, Mali 532 km
Coastline 320 Miles
515 Kilometers
Geographic Coordinates 8 00 N, 5 00 W
Terrain mostly flat to undulating plains; mountains in northwest
Highest Point 1,752 Meters
Highest Point Location Mont Nimba 1,752 m
Lowest Point Location Gulf of Guinea 0 m
Natural Resources petroleum, natural gas, diamonds, manganese, iron ore, cobalt, bauxite, copper, hydropower
Time Zone UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
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