Location:
Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco

Geographic coordinates:
24 30 N, 13 00 W

Map references:
Africa

Area:
total: 266,000 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 266,000 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 0 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 79

Area - comparative:
about the size of Colorado

Land boundaries:
total: 2,049 km
[see also: Land boundaries - total country ranks ]
border countries (3): Algeria 41 km, Mauritania 1,564 km, Morocco 444 km

Coastline:
1,110 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue

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

Elevation:
mean elevation: 256 m
[see also: Elevation - mean elevation country ranks ]
elevation extremes: lowest point: Sebjet Tah -55 m highest point: unnamed elevation 805 m

Natural resources:
phosphates, iron ore

Land use:
agricultural land: 18.8% arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 18.8%
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
forest: 2.7%
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 78.5% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
0 sq km (2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Population - distribution:
most of the population lives in the two-thirds of the area west of the berm (Moroccan-occupied) that divides the territory; about 40% of that populace resides in Laayoune

Natural hazards:
hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility

Environment - current issues:
sparse water and lack of arable land

Geography - note:
the waters off the coast are particularly rich fishing areas