Gabon:
Geography

Click to enlarge

Pages for other countries and territories

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


Background	Definition Only two autocratic presidents have ruled Gabon since independence from France in 1960. The current president of Gabon, El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba - one of the longest-serving heads of state in the world - has dominated the country's political scene for four decades. President BONGO introduced a nominal multiparty system and a new constitution in the early 1990s. However, allegations of electoral fraud during local elections in 2002-03 and the presidential elections in 2005 have exposed the weaknesses of formal political structures in Gabon. Gabon's political opposition remains weak, divided, and financially dependent on the current regime. Despite political conditions, a small population, abundant natural resources, and considerable foreign support have helped make Gabon one of the more prosperous and stable African countries.

Location	Definition Western Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea
Geographic coordinates	Definition 1 00 S, 11 45 E
Map references	Definition Africa
Area	Definition - World rank and map total: 267,667 sq km land: 257,667 sq km water: 10,000 sq km
Area - comparative	Definition slightly smaller than Colorado
Land boundaries	Definition total: 2,551 km border countries: Cameroon 298 km, Republic of the Congo 1,903 km, Equatorial Guinea 350 km
Coastline	Definition 885 km
Maritime claims	Definition territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate	Definition tropical; always hot, humid
Terrain	Definition narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and south
Elevation extremes	Definition lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Iboundji 1,575 m
Natural resources	Definition petroleum, natural gas, diamond, niobium, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore, hydropower
Land use	Definition - World rank and map arable land: 1.21% permanent crops: 0.64% other: 98.15% (2005)
Irrigated land	Definition 70 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources	Definition 164 cu km (1987)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)	Definition total: 0.12 cu km/yr (50%/8%/42%) per capita: 87 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards	Definition NA
Environment - current issues	Definition deforestation; poaching
Environment - international agreements	Definition party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note	Definition a small population and oil and mineral reserves have helped Gabon become one of Africa's wealthier countries; in general, these circumstances have allowed the country to maintain and conserve its pristine rain forest and rich biodiversity