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GeographyLocation
Central Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea Geographic coordinates
1 00 S, 11 45 E
Map references
Africa
Area World Ranking: 77
Total 267,667 sq km
Land 257,667 sq km Water 10,000 sq km Area - comparative
Slightly smaller than Colorado
Land boundaries
Total 2,551 km
Border countries Cameroon 298 km, Republic of the Congo 1,903 km, Equatorial Guinea 350 km Coastline
885 km
Maritime claims
Territorial sea 12 nm
Contiguous zone 24 nm Exclusive economic zone 200 nm Climate
Tropical; always hot, humid
Terrain
Narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and south Elevation extremes
Lowest point Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Highest point Mont Iboundji 1,575 m Natural resources
Petroleum, natural gas, diamond, niobium, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore, hydropower Land use
Arable land 1.21%
Permanent crops 0.64% Other 98.15% (2005) Irrigated land
40 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources
164 cu km (1987)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)
Total 0.12 cu km/yr (50%/8%/42%)
Per capita 87 cu m/yr (2000) Natural hazards
NA
Environment - current issues
Deforestation; poaching
Environment - international agreements
Party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling Signed, but not ratified None of the selected agreements Geography - note
A small population and oil and mineral reserves have helped Gabon become one of Africa's wealthier countries; in general, these circumstances have allowed the country to maintain and conserve its pristine rain forest and rich biodiversity
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Gabon (Libreville):
 
GPS points from Gabon (Libreville)
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El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba - one of the longest-serving heads of state in the world - dominated the country's political scene for four decades (1967-2009) following independence from France in 1960. President BONGO introduced a nominal multiparty system and a new constitution in the early 1990s. However, allegations of electoral fraud during local elections in 2002-03 and the presidential elections in 2005 exposed the weaknesses of formal political structures in Gabon. Following President BONGO's death in 2009, new elections in brought Ali Ben BONGO, son of the former president, to power. Despite constrained political conditions, Gabon's small population, abundant natural resources, and considerable foreign support have helped make it one of the more prosperous and stable African countries.