Geography (Benin)
=================


     Total area:
         112,620 km2
     Land area:
         110,620 km2
     Comparative area:
         slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
     Land boundaries:
         1,989 km total; Burkina 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km
     Coastline:
         121 km
     Maritime claims:
       Territorial sea:
         200 nm
     Disputes:
         none
     Climate:
         tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
     Terrain:
         mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains
     Natural resources:
         small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber
     Land use:
         arable land 12%; permanent crops 4%; meadows and pastures 4%; forest and
         woodland 35%; other 45%, includes irrigated NEGL%
     Environment:
         hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north in winter; deforestation;
         desertification
     Note:
         recent droughts have severely affected marginal agriculture in north; no
         natural harbors