Gabon Geography
Gabon Geography: A summary of information about Gabon Geography, from government research data as well as independent research and other sources.
Gabon: Geography
Location
Western Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea
Geographic coordinates
1 00 S, 11 45 E
Map references
Africa
Area
total: 267,667 sq km land: 257,667 sq km water: 10,000 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Colorado
Land boundaries
total: 2,551 km border countries: Cameroon 298 km, Republic of the Congo 1,903 km, Equatorial Guinea 350 km
Coastline
885 km
Maritime claims
contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate
tropical; always hot, humid
Terrain
narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and south
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Iboundji 1,575 m
Natural resources
petroleum, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore, hydropower
Land use
arable land: 1% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 18% forests and woodland: 77% other: 3% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land
40 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards
NA
Environment - current issues
deforestation; poaching
Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
