Geography of Sierra Leone

Geography of Sierra Leone

Continent	Africa
Region	Western Africa
Coordinates	08°30′00″N 12°06′00″W / 8.50000°N 12.10000°W / 8.50000; -12.10000
Area
• Total	71,740 km2 (27,700 sq mi)
• Land	99.8%
• Water	0.2%
Coastline	402[1] km (250 mi)
Highest point	Mount Bintumani 1,948 meters (6,391 ft)[1]
Lowest point	Atlantic Ocean 0m
Longest river	Rokel River 400 km (250 mi)[2]
Largest lake	Lake Sonfon 8.2 km2 (3.2 sq mi)[3]
Climate	tropical
Terrain	coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, an upland plateau, mountains in the east[1]
Natural resources	mineral deposits (diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite)[1]
Natural hazards	dry, sand-laden Harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to February); sandstorms, dust storms[1]
Environmental issues	rapid population growth; deforestation from increased cattle grazing and agriculture, land degradation and flooding; biodiversity loss; air and water pollution; overfishing[1]

Sierra Leone is a country in West Africa with a North Atlantic Ocean coastline to the west. It lies on the African Plate. The country's main geographical features include wooded hill country, an upland plateau, and mountains in the east. The highest peak is Mount Bintumani, which is 1,948 meters (6,391 ft) above sea level. The coastline has a belt of mangrove swamps. Freetown, the nation's capital city, has one of the world's largest natural harbours.^[4] The Rokel River is the largest river in Sierra Leone. It is 400 kilometres (250 mi) long and has a basin with a total area of 10,622 square kilometres (4,101 sq mi).

Sierra Leone is located at approximately 8°30′N 12°06′W / 8.5°N 12.1°W / 8.5; -12.1, between the 7th and 10th parallels north of the equator. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and northeast, and Liberia to the south and southeast.^[5] The country has a total area of 71,740 km² (27,699 sq mi), divided into a land area of 71,620 km² (27,653 sq mi) and water of 120 km² (46 sq mi).^[1]