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Cameroon:
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Other pages in this profile of Cameroon:
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
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Background |
Definition The former French Cameroon and part of British Cameroon merged in 1961 to form the present country. Cameroon has generally enjoyed stability, which has permitted the development of agriculture, roads, and railways, as well as a petroleum industry. Despite a slow movement toward democratic reform, political power remains firmly in the hands of President Paul BIYA. |
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Location |
Definition Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria |
Geographic coordinates |
Definition 6 00 N, 12 00 E |
Map references |
Definition Africa |
Area |
Definition - World rank and map total: 475,440 sq km land: 469,440 sq km water: 6,000 sq km |
Area - comparative |
Definition slightly larger than California |
Land boundaries |
Definition total: 4,591 km border countries: Central African Republic 797 km, Chad 1,094 km, Republic of the Congo 523 km, Equatorial Guinea 189 km, Gabon 298 km, Nigeria 1,690 km |
Coastline |
Definition 402 km |
Maritime claims |
Definition territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm |
Climate |
Definition varies with terrain, from tropical along coast to semiarid and hot in north |
Terrain |
Definition diverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau in center, mountains in west, plains in north |
Elevation extremes |
Definition lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Fako 4,095 m (on Mt. Cameroon) |
Natural resources |
Definition petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower |
Land use |
Definition - World rank and map arable land: 12.54% permanent crops: 2.52% other: 84.94% (2005) |
Irrigated land |
Definition 260 sq km (2003) |
Total renewable water resources |
Definition 285.5 cu km (2003) |
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) |
Definition total: 0.99 cu km/yr (18%/8%/74%) per capita: 61 cu m/yr (2000) |
Natural hazards |
Definition volcanic activity with periodic releases of poisonous gases from Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun volcanoes |
Environment - current issues |
Definition waterborne diseases are prevalent; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; poaching; overfishing |
Environment - international agreements |
Definition party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
Geography - note |
Definition sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa; throughout the country there are areas of thermal springs and indications of current or prior volcanic activity; Mount Cameroon, the highest mountain in Sub-Saharan west Africa, is an active volcano |
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Copyright 2008 World Sites Atlas (sitesatlas.com) |