Ghana Geography:
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo
Geographic coordinates:
8 00 N, 2 00 W
Map references:
Area:
total:
239,460 sq km
land:
230,940 sq km
water:
8,520 sq km
Area - comparative:
Slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries:
total: 2,094 km
border countries: Burkina Faso 549 km, Cote d'Ivoire 668 km, Togo 877 km
Coastline:
539 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate:
Tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north
Terrain:
Mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Afadjato 880 m
Natural resources:
Gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower, petroleum, silver, salt, limestone
Land use:
arable land: 16.26%
permanent crops: 9.67%
other: 74.07%
(2001)
Irrigated land:
110 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
Dry, dusty, northeastern harmattan winds occur from January to March; droughts
Environment - current issues:
Recurrent drought in north severely affects agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation (not ratified)
Geography - Note:
Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake |
