Area:
total area: 266,000 sq km
land area: 266,000 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Colorado
Land boundaries: total 2,046 km, Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km,
Morocco 443 km
Coastline: 1,110 km
Maritime claims: contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue
International disputes: claimed and administered by Morocco, but sovereignty is unresolved and the UN is attempting to hold a referendum on the issue; the UN-administered cease-fire has been currently in effect since September 1991
Climate: hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents
produce fog and heavy dew
Terrain: mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy
surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast
Natural resources: phosphates, iron ore
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 19% forest and woodland: 0% other: 81%
Irrigated land: NA sq km