Congo, Republic of the Geography Profile 2009

Location

Western Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon

Geographic coordinates

1 00 S, 15 00 E

Map references

Africa

Area

total: 342,000 sq km
land: 341,500 sq km
water: 500 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Montana

Land boundaries

total: 5,504 km
border countries: Angola 201 km, Cameroon 523 km, Central African Republic 467 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,410 km, Gabon 1,903 km

Coastline

169 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 200 nm

Climate

tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October); persistent high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating climate astride the Equator

Terrain

coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Berongou 903 m

Natural resources

petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, gold, magnesium, natural gas, hydropower

Land use

arable land: 1.45%
permanent crops: 0.15%
other: 98.4% (2005)

Irrigated land

20 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources

832 cu km (1987)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.03 cu km/yr (59%/29%/12%)
per capita: 8 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards

seasonal flooding

Environment - current issues

air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from the dumping of raw sewage; tap water is not potable; deforestation

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note

about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, or along the railroad between them