Cameroon Geography

What is the terrain and geography like in Cameroon?

Overview

The Republic of Cameroon covers an area (184,000 square miles) slightly larger than the size of California and is located just north of the Equator at the hinge of the West African coastline. Shaped like an irregular triangle, Cameroon extends north-eastward from the Gulf of Guinea to Lake Chad, and borders six coastal and inland countries: Nigeria to the northwest; Chad and the Central African Republic to the north and northeast; and the Congo, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea to the south.

Cameroon has four distinct topographical regions. The low coastal plains in the south are blanketed with equatorial rain forests extending to the Sanaga River. In central Cameroon, the rain forest yields to the Adamaoua Plateau-a vast, sparsely vegetated region. Stretching northward from the foot of this plateau to Lake Chad are the great northern plains, where savannas contrast starkly with unusual rock formations in the Mandara Mountains. To the west and northwest are rolling hills and volcanic mountains cloaked in lush vegetation. Here lies Mt. Cameroon, the highest peak (13,428 feet) in sub-Saharan West Africa.

Geography - note

Sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa; there are areas of thermal springs and indications of current or prior volcanic activity throughout the country; Mount Cameroon, the highest mountain in Sub-Saharan west Africa, is an active volcano.

Cameroon Use of Natural Resources

Geographic Location	Africa
Total Area	183,567 Square Miles 475,440 Square Kilometers
Land Area	182,513 Square Miles 472,710 Square Kilometers
Water Area	1,054 Square Miles 2,730 Square Kilometers
Land Boundaries	2,853 Miles 4,591 Kilometers
Irrigated Land	99 Square Miles 256 Square Kilometers
Border Countries	Central African Republic 797 km, Chad 1,094 km, Republic of the Congo 523 km, Equatorial Guinea 189 km, Gabon 298 km, Nigeria 1,690 km
Coastline	250 Miles 402 Kilometers
Geographic Coordinates	6 00 N, 12 00 E
Terrain	Diverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau in center, mountains in the west, plains in the north
Highest Point	4,095 Meters
Highest Point Location	Fako (on Mount Cameroon) 4,095 m
Lowest Point Location	Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Natural Resources	Petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower
Time Zone	UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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