Benin
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| Geography | Benin |
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Location:
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Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo |
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Geographic coordinates:
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9 30 N, 2 15 E |
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Map references:
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Africa |
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Area:
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total: 112,620 sq km
water: 2,000 sq km land: 110,620 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Pennsylvania |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 1,989 km
border countries: Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km |
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Coastline:
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121 km |
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 200 NM |
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Climate:
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tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north |
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Terrain:
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mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Sokbaro 658 m |
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Natural resources:
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small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber |
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Land use:
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arable land: 15.28%
permanent crops: 1.36% other: 83.36% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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120 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March |
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Environment - current issues:
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inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
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Geography - note:
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sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands |
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