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Geography of Guinea-Bissau

Map Of Guinea Bissau

This article describes the geography of Guinea-Bissau.

Location
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Senegal
Geographic coordinates
Map references
Africa
Area
  • Total: 36,120 km²
  • Land: 28,000 km²
  • Water: 8,120 km²
Area--comparative
Slightly less than three times the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries
  • Total: 724 km
  • Border countries: Guinea 386 km, Senegal 338 km
Coastline
350 km
Maritime claims
  • Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (370.4 km)
  • Territorial sea: 12 nm (22.2 km)
Climate
Tropical; generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds
Terrain
Mostly low coastal plain rising to savanna in east
Elevation extremes
  • Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
  • Highest point: Unnamed location in the northeast corner of the country 300 m
Natural resources
Fish, timber, phosphates, bauxite, unexploited deposits of petroleum
Land use
  • Arable land: 11%
  • Permanent crops: 1%
  • Permanent pastures: 38%
  • Forests and woodland: 38%
  • Other: 12% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land
17 km² (1993 est.)
Natural hazards
Hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season; brush fires
Environment--current issues
Deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; overfishing
Environment--international agreements

See also: Guinea-Bissau

Last updated: 08-16-2005 11:21:29