Ghana's Geography | Ghana Geography

Location: Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo

Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 2 00 W

Map references: Africa

Area: Total: 239,460 sq km land: 230,940 sq km water: 8,520 sq km

Area - comparative: Slightly smaller than Oregon

Land boundaries: Total: 2,094 km border countries: Burkina Faso 549 km, Cote d'Ivoire 668 km, Togo 877 km

Coastline: 539 km

Maritime claims: Territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm

Climate: Tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north

Terrain: Mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area

Elevation extremes: Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Afadjato 880 m

Natural resources: Gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower, petroleum, silver, salt, limestone

Land use: Arable land: 16.26% permanent crops: 9.67% other: 74.07% (2001)

Irrigated land: 110 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards: Dry, dusty, northeastern harmattan winds occur from January to March; droughts

Environment - current issues: Recurrent drought in north severely affects agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water

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, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note: Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake

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