Togo:
Geography

Click to enlarge

Pages for other countries and territories

Other pages in this profile of Togo:
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.


Background	French Togoland became Togo in 1960. Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA, installed as military ruler in 1967, continued to rule into the 21st century. Despite the facade of multiparty elections instituted in the early 1990s, the government continued to be dominated by President EYADEMA, whose Rally of the Togolese People (RPT) party has maintained power almost continually since 1967. Togo has come under fire from international organizations for human rights abuses and is plagued by political unrest. While most bilateral and multilateral aid to Togo remains frozen, the EU initiated a partial resumption of cooperation and development aid to Togo in late 2004 based upon commitments by Togo to expand opportunities for political opposition and liberalize portions of the economy. Upon his death in February 2005, President EYADEMA was succeeded by his son Faure GNASSINGBE. The succession, supported by the military and in contravention of the nation's constitution, was challenged by popular protest and a threat of sanctions from regional leaders. GNASSINGBE succumbed to pressure and in April 2005 held elections that legitimized his succession. Legislative elections are scheduled for June 2007.

Location	Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Benin and Ghana
Geographic coordinates	8 00 N, 1 10 E
Map references	Africa
Area	total: 56,785 sq km land: 54,385 sq km water: 2,400 sq km
Area - comparative	slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries	total: 1,647 km border countries: Benin 644 km, Burkina Faso 126 km, Ghana 877 km
Coastline	56 km
Maritime claims	territorial sea: 30 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate	tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Terrain	gently rolling savanna in north; central hills; southern plateau; low coastal plain with extensive lagoons and marshes
Elevation extremes	lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Agou 986 m
Natural resources	phosphates, limestone, marble, arable land
Land use	arable land: 44.2% permanent crops: 2.11% other: 53.69% (2005)
Irrigated land	70 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards	hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in north during winter; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues	deforestation attributable to slash-and-burn agriculture and the use of wood for fuel; water pollution presents health hazards and hinders the fishing industry; air pollution increasing in urban areas
Environment - international agreements	party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note	the country's length allows it to stretch through six distinct geographic regions; climate varies from tropical to savanna