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]
In total, Liberia comprises 111,369 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.
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 1,440 m (4,724 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.
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, it also has 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 1,440 metres or 4,724 feet above sea level at Mount Wuteve.
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 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.
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.
This article incorporates public domain material from World Factbook. CIA.
January 02, 2023
geography, liberia, liberia, saharan, nation, west, africa, located, borders, north, atlantic, ocean, southwest, kilometers, coastline, three, other, african, nations, other, three, sides, sierra, leone, northwest, guinea, northeast, ivory, coast, côte, ivoire. 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 Cote d Ivoire to the east 1 Geography of LiberiaContinentAfricaRegionWest AfricaCoordinatesCoordinates 6 30 N 9 30 W 6 500 N 9 500 W 6 500 9 500AreaRanked 102nd Total111 369 km2 43 000 sq mi Land86 49 Water13 51 Coastline680 km 420 mi Borders986 km 613 mi Highest pointWologizi Range 1 440 meters 4 720 ft Lowest pointAtlantic Ocean 0 meters 0 ft Longest riverCavalla River 515 km 320 mi Largest lakeLake Piso 103 km2 40 sq mi Exclusive economic zone249 734 km2 96 423 sq mi Topographic map of Liberia Location of Liberia in western Africa Koppen climate classification map of Liberia In total Liberia comprises 111 369 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 Contents 1 Physical geography 1 1 Extreme points 2 Borders and maritime claims 3 Terrain 3 1 Elevation extremes 4 Natural resources 4 1 Mining 5 Land use and agriculture 5 1 Irrigated land 5 2 Natural hazards 6 Environmental issues 6 1 Climate change 7 See also 8 References 9 External linksPhysical geography EditLiberia 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 1 440 m 4 724 ft 2 Extreme points Edit 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 Kablake 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 EditThe 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 EditLiberia has a mostly hilly terrain it also has rolling plains along the coast to a rolling plateau and low mountains in the northeast Elevation extremes Edit The lowest point on Liberia is at sea level on the Atlantic Ocean The highest point on Liberia is 1 440 metres or 4 724 feet above sea level at Mount Wuteve Natural resources EditNatural resources that are found in Liberia include iron ore timber diamonds gold and hydropower Mining Edit This section is an excerpt from Mining industry of Liberia edit Iron ore mining 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 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 Editarable land 5 2 permanent crops 2 1 permanent pastures 20 8 forest 44 6 other 27 3 2011 Irrigated land Edit 30 square kilometres of Liberia s land was irrigated as of 2012 Natural hazards Edit The natural hazard that occurs in Liberia is a dust laden harmattan wind that blows from the Sahara December to March Environmental issues EditThis section is an excerpt from Environmental issues in Liberia edit A Liberian tropical forest 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 Edit This section is an excerpt from Climate change in Liberia edit Climate change in Liberia causes many problems as 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 the coastal effects of sea level rise and changing water systems and water availability 8 Climate change is expected to severely impact the economy of Liberia especially agriculture fisheries and forestry Liberia has been an active participant in international and local policy changes related to climate change 9 See also EditAdministrative divisions of Liberia List of cities in Liberia List of rivers of Liberia List of Liberian national forestsReferences Edit a b c Philip s 1994 Atlas of the World Reed International p 100 ISBN 0 540 05831 9 a b 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 Edit 1 This article incorporates public domain material from World Factbook CIA Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Geography of Liberia amp oldid 1115418957, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
