1 GeoFroggy

Background

French Cameroon became independent in 1960 as the Republic of Cameroon. The following year the southern portion of neighboring British Cameroon voted to merge with the new country to form the Federal Republic of Cameroon. In 1972, a new constitution replaced the federation with a unitary state, the United Republic of Cameroon. The country has generally enjoyed stability, which has permitted the development of agriculture, roads, and railways, as well as a petroleum industry. Despite slow movement toward democratic reform, political power remains firmly in the hands of President Paul BIYA.

Location

Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria

Area Comparative

Slightly larger than California

Maritime Claims

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Contiguous zone: 24 nm

Climate
Varies with terrain, from tropical along coast to semiarid and hot in north

Natural Hazards

Volcanic activity with periodic releases of poisonous gases from Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun volcanoes volcanism: Mt. Cameroon (elev. 4,095 m), which last erupted in 2000, is the most frequently active volcano in West Africa; lakes in Oku volcanic field have released fatal levels of gas on occasion, killing some 1,700 people in 1986

Environment Current Issues

Waterborne diseases are prevalent; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; poaching; overfishing

Environment International Agreements

Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

Signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography Note

Sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa; throughout the country there are areas of thermal springs and indications of current or prior volcanic activity; Mount Cameroon, the highest mountain in Sub-Saharan west Africa, is an active volcano
Year

Map Reference

  • Africa

Irrigated Land 2008

  • 290 sq km

Area 2011

  • Total
    475,440 sq km
  • Land
    472,710 sq km
  • Water
    2,730 sq km

Coastline

  • 402 km

Geographical Coordinates

  • 6 00 N, 12 00 E

Land use 2011

  • Arable Land
    12.54%
  • Permanent Crops
    2.52%
  • Other
    84.94%

Terrain

  • Diverse
  • With coastal plain in southwest
  • Dissected plateau in center
  • Mountains in west
  • Plains in north

Elevation

  • Lowest Point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
  • Highest Point: Fako 4,095 m (on Mt. Cameroon)

Land Boundaries

  • Total
    4,591 km
  • Central African
    Republic km
  • Chad
    1,094 km
  • Republic Of The Congo
    523 km
  • Equatorial Guinea
    189 km
  • Gabon
    298 km
  • Nigeria
    1,690 km

Natural Resources

  • Petroleum
  • Bauxite
  • Iron ore
  • Timber
  • Hydropower
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