International disputes: demarcation of international boundaries in vicinity of Lake Chad, the lack of which led to border incidents in the past, is completed and awaits ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria; dispute with Nigeria over land and maritime boundaries in the vicinity of the Bakasi Peninsula has been referred to the International Court of Justice
Climate: varies with terrain, from tropical along coast to semiarid and hot in north
Terrain: diverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau in center, mountains in west, plains in north lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Fako 4,095 m
Natural resources: petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber,
hydropower potential
Land use:
arable land: 13%
permanent crops: 2%
meadows and pastures: 18%
forest and woodland: 54%
other: 13%
Irrigated land: 280 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: water-borne diseases are prevalent; deforestation;
overgrazing; desertification; poaching; overfishing
natural hazards: recent volcanic activity with release of poisonous
gases
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical
Timber 83; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Nuclear Test
Ban, Tropical Timber 94
Geographic note: sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa
People ———
Population: 14,261,557 (July 1996 est.)