Benin's Geography | Benin Geography

Location: Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo

Geographic coordinates: 9 30 N, 2 15 E

Map references: Africa

Area: Total: 112,620 sq km land: 110,620 sq km water: 2,000 sq km

Area - comparative: Slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Land boundaries: Total: 1,989 km border countries: Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km

Coastline: 121 km

Maritime claims: Territorial sea: 200 nm

Climate: Tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

Terrain: Mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains

Elevation extremes: Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Sokbaro 658 m

Natural resources: Small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber

Land use: Arable land: 18.08% permanent crops: 2.4% other: 79.52% (2001)

Irrigated land: 120 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards: Hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March

Environment - current issues: Inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification

Environment - international agreements: Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note: Sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands

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