Geography of the Central African Republic

Location: Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Geographic coordinates: 7 00 N, 21 00 E

Area: total: 622,984 sq km; land: 622,984 sq km; water: 0 sq km

Land boundaries: total: 5,203 km
border countries: Cameroon 797 km, Chad 1,197 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,577 km, Republic of the Congo 467 km, Sudan 1,165 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers

Terrain: vast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Oubangui River 335 m
highest point: Mont Ngaoui 1,420 m

Natural resources: diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil, hydropower

Land use: arable land: 3.1%; permanent crops: 0.15%; other: 96.75% (2005)

Irrigated land: 20 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources: 144.4 cu km (2003)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural): total: 0.03 cu km/yr (80%/16%/4%)
per capita: 7 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; floods are common

Environment - current issues: tap water is not potable; poaching has diminished the country's reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges; desertification; deforestation

Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note: landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa.