Geography of Liberia
Liberia is a Sub-Saharan nation in West Africa located at 6 °N, 9 °W. It borders the north Atlantic Ocean to the southwest (580 kilometers (360 mi) of coastline) and three other African nations on the other three sides, Sierra Leone to the northwest, Guinea to the northeast and Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire) to the east.[1]
 | |
| Continent | Africa |
|---|---|
| Region | West Africa |
| Coordinates | |
| Area | Ranked 102nd |
| • Total | 111,369 km2 (43,000 sq mi) |
| • Land | 86.49% |
| • Water | 13.51% |
| Coastline | 680 km (420 mi) |
| Borders | 986 km (613 mi) |
| Highest point | Wologizi Range 1,194 meters (3,917 ft) |
| Lowest point | Atlantic Ocean 0 meters (0 ft) |
| Longest river | Cavalla River 515 km (320 mi) |
| Largest lake | Lake Piso 103 km2 (40 sq mi) |
| Exclusive economic zone | 249,734 km2 (96,423 sq mi) |
In total, Liberia comprises 110,000 square kilometers (43,000 sq mi) of which 96,300 square kilometers (37,190 sq mi) is land and 15,000 square kilometers (5,810 sq mi) is water.
Physical geography
Liberia extends from between 4.21°N and 8.34°N to 7.27°W and 11.31°W. It is roughly rectangular measuring about 510 km (317 mi) in length from northwest to southeast, with a width of about 275 km (171 mi). The coastline is about 680 km (423 mi), including river mouths ad inlets up to one kilometre wide.[2]
Drainage of the whole country is direct to the sea, with a series of short rivers flowing directly into the sea. These are, from west to east, the Mano River on the border with Sierra Leone, the Mafa River, the Lofa River, the Saint Paul River, the Mesurado River, the Farmington River, the Saint John River, the Timbo River, the Cestos River, the Sehnkwehn River, the Sinoe River, the Dugbe River, the Dubo River, the Grand Cess River and the Cavalla River on the border with Ivory Coast.[1]
In the west, the coast is low and sandy, but in the central and eastern parts of the country it is sandy and rocky and of moderate relief, frequently broken by the mouths of the rivers. The coastal plain varies in width, being narrow between Monrovia and Buchanan, but being much wider in the west and in the Cestos Valley in the centre, narrowing again in the eastern end of the country.[1]
Further inland the land rises, sometimes with escarpments, to a plateau some 300 to 400 m (1,000 to 1,300 ft) above sea level. This is divided by the river valleys and there are hilly ridges between some of the river valleys. The land rises further in the north and northwest of the country, with mountains that exceed 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in several places, the highest point in the country being in the Wologizi Range at 1,194 m (3,917 ft).[2]
Extreme points
This is a list of the extreme points of Liberia, the points that are farther north, south, east or west than any other location.
- Northernmost point – unnamed location on the border with Guinea in the Sodia river immediately north of the town of Voinjama, Lofa County.
- Easternmost point – unnamed headland at the confluence of the Cavally river and the Hana river, River Gee County.
- Southernmost point – Kablaké headland, Maryland County.
- Westernmost point - unnamed headland immediately west of the town of Sewulu at the mouth of the Mano River, Grand Cape Mount County.
Borders and maritime claims
The total length of Liberia's land borders is 1,587 kilometers (986 mi): 310 kilometers (190 mi) with Sierra Leone on the northwest, 560 kilometers (350 mi) with Guinea to the north, and 716 kilometers (445 mi) with Ivory Coast. Liberia claims an Exclusive Economic Zone of 249,734 km2 (96,423 sq mi) and 200 nmi (370 km; 230 mi).
Terrain
Liberia has a mostly hilly terrain, from rolling plains along the coast to a rolling plateau and low mountains in the northeast.
Elevation extremes
The lowest point on Liberia is at sea level on the Atlantic Ocean. The highest point on Liberia is 1,380 m above sea level at Mount Wuteve.
Natural resources
Natural resources that are found in Liberia include iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold and hydropower.
Mining
_Liberia._Iron_ore_is_its_major_export.jpg.webp)
The mining industry of Liberia has witnessed a revival after the civil war which ended in 2003.[3] Gold, diamonds, and iron ore form the core minerals of the mining sector with a new Mineral Development Policy and Mining Code being put in place to attract foreign investments.[4] In 2013, the mineral sector accounted for 11% of GDP in the country and the World Bank has projected a further increase in the sector by 2017.[5]
Mining sector is considered the prime mover for the economic growth of the country and its exploitation has to be appropriately balanced with sustainable environmental preservation of its rich biodiversity.[6] Apart from iron ore extractions, cement, diamond, gold, and petroleum resources have also been given due importance to enrich the economy of the country.Land use and agriculture
arable land:
5.2%
permanent crops:
2.1%
permanent pastures:
20.8%
forest:
44.6%
other:
27.3% (2011)
Irrigated land
30 square kilometres of Liberia's land was irrigated as of 2012.
Environmental issues
Environmental issues in Liberia include the deforestation of tropical rainforest, the hunting of endangered species for bushmeat, the pollution of rivers and coastal waters from industrial run-off and raw sewage, and the burning and dumping of household waste.
Like other countries Africa, Liberia is also especially vulnerable to climate change, exacerbating existing environmental issues.Climate change
Liberia is particularly vulnerable to climate change. Like many other countries in Africa, Liberia both faces existing environmental issues, as well as sustainable development challenges.[7] Because of its location in Africa, it is vulnerable to extreme weather, coastal effects of sea level rise, and changing water systems and water availability.[8]
Climate change is expected to severely impact the Liberian economy, especially agriculture, fisheries, and forestry.[9] Liberia has been an active participant in international and local policy changes related to climate change.See also
References
- Philip's (1994). Atlas of the World. Reed International. p. 100. ISBN 0-540-05831-9.
- Hughes, R.H. (1992). A Directory of African Wetlands. IUCN. pp. 385–386. ISBN 978-2-88032-949-5.
- "Liberia". Natural Resource Governance Institute. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
- "Mining in Liberia- Overview". mbendi.com. Archived from the original on 6 December 2000. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
- "Quick-Action Helps Maintain Key Mining Industries during Ebola Outbreak". USGS. 7 April 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
- "Coordinating Mining Conservation Efforts in Liberia". World Bank. 28 April 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
- "Building effective climate governance in Liberia - Liberia". ReliefWeb. Retrieved 2020-05-21.
- "Climate Risk Profile: Liberia". Climatelinks. Retrieved 2020-05-21.
- Blackmore, R.D. Lorna Doone. Ryerson Press. ISBN 0-665-26503-4. OCLC 1084383140.
External links
This article incorporates public domain material from the CIA World Factbook website https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/.