Ghana Geography
Ghana Geography: A summary of information about Ghana Geography, from government research data as well as independent research and other sources.
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
Africa
Area
total: 238,540 sq km land: 230,020 sq km water: 8,520 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries
total: 2,093 km border countries: Burkina Faso 548 km, Cote d'Ivoire 668 km, Togo 877 km
Coastline
539 km
Maritime claims
contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 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
Land use
arable land: 12% permanent crops: 7% permanent pastures: 22% forests and woodland: 35% other: 24% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land
60 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards
dry, dusty, harmattan winds occur from January to March; droughts
Environment - current issues
recent drought in north severely affecting 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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note
Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake; northeasterly harmattan wind (January to March)
