Geography (Mali)
================


     Total area:
         1,240,000 km2
     Land area:
         1,220,000 km2
     Comparative area:
         slightly less than twice the size of Texas
     Land boundaries:
         7,243 km; Algeria 1,376 km, Burkina 1,000 km, Guinea 858 km, Ivory Coast 532
         km, Mauritania 2,237 km, Niger 821 km, Senegal 419 km
     Coastline:
         none - landlocked
     Maritime claims:
         none - landlocked
     Disputes:
         the disputed international boundary between Burkina and Mali was submitted
         to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in October 1983 and the ICJ
         issued its final ruling in December 1986, which both sides agreed to accept;
         Burkina and Mali are proceeding with boundary demarcation, including the
         tripoint with Niger
     Climate:
         subtropical to arid; hot and dry February to June; rainy, humid, and mild
         June to November; cool and dry November to February
     Terrain:
         mostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand; savanna in south,
         rugged hills in northeast
     Natural resources:
         gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium; bauxite, iron ore,
         manganese, tin, and copper deposits are known but not exploited
     Land use:
         arable land 2%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 25%; forest and
         woodland 7%; other 66%; includes irrigated NEGL%
     Environment:
         hot, dust-laden harmattan; haze common during dry seasons; desertification
     Note:
         landlocked