Roughly circular in shape, Sierra Leone has an area of almost 30,000 square miles 71,740 sq km. Located on the West African coast bordering the North Atlantic with a coastline of 420 kms, the country is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the south and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Coordinates 8 30 N, 11 30 W
Three topographical regions run northwest to southwest, roughly parallel to the coast; a belt of mangrove swamps and white sand beaches, an area of low plains covered with secondary forest and cultivated land and a region of high plateaux and mountains to the east, whilst the mountainous peninsula on which Freetown is located makes up the fourth distinct geographical region.
Sierra Leone is of tropical climate with a rainy season May through October, the balance of the year representing the dry season. The beginning and end of the rainy season is marked by strong thunderous storms not unlike those of the hot summer period on the US eastern seaboard. Sierra Leone has an average year round temperature of 80 degrees.
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia
Geographic coordinates:
8 30 N, 11 30 W
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 71,740 sq km
land: 71,620 sq km
water: 120 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries:
total: 958 km
Border countries:
Guinea 652 km, Liberia 306 km
Coastline:
402 km
Maritime
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate
tropical, hot, humid
summer rainy season (May to December )
winter dry season (January to April)
Terrain
coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded forested hill country, upland plateau, white beach coastline
Elevations
lowest point - Atlantic Ocean 0m highest point - Loma Mansa (Bintumani) 1,948m
Natural resources
diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite, rutile, gas and oil currently under research
Land use
arable land: 7% permanent crops: 1% other: 92%
Population
6,000,000 plus
Religions
Muslim 60% Indigenous beliefs 30% Christian 10%
Language
English (official), Mende (principally in the south)
Temne (principally in the north), Krio (English based)
* SIERRA LEONE LOCAL TIME GMT throughout the year
* ELECTRICITY 220v AC 50Hz
