Geography (Nigeria)
===================


     Total area:
         923,770 km2
     Land area:
         910,770 km2
     Comparative area:
         slightly more than twice the size of California
     Land boundaries:
         4,047 km total; Benin 773 km, Cameroon 1,690 km, Chad 87 km, Niger 1,497 km
     Coastline:
         853 km
     Maritime claims:
       Continental shelf:
         200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation
       Exclusive economic zone:
         200 nm
       Territorial sea:
         30 nm
     Disputes:
         demarcation of international boundaries in Lake Chad, the lack of which has
         led to border incidents in the past, is completed and awaiting ratification
         by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria; boundary commission created with
         Cameroon to discuss unresolved land and maritime boundaries - has not yet
         convened
     Climate:
         varies - equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in north
     Terrain:
         southern lowlands merge into central hills and plateaus; mountains in
         southeast, plains in north
     Natural resources:
         crude oil, tin, columbite, iron ore, coal, limestone, lead, zinc, natural
         gas
     Land use:
         arable land 31%; permanent crops 3%; meadows and pastures 23%; forest and
         woodland 15%; other 28%; includes irrigated NEGL%
     Environment:
         recent droughts in north severely affecting marginal agricultural
         activities; desertification; soil degradation, rapid deforestation