<hdr>The World Factbook 1994: Mali<nl>Geography</hdr><body>
<list>
<item><hi format=bold>Location:</hi> Western Africa, between Mauritania and Niger
<item><hi format=bold>Area:</hi>
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>total area:</hi> 1.24 million sq km
<item>• <hi format=ital>land area:</hi> 1.22 million sq km
<item>• <hi format=ital>comparative area:</hi> slightly less than twice the size of Texas
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<item><hi format=bold>Land boundaries:</hi> total 7,243 km, Algeria 1,376 km, Burkina 1,000 km, Guinea 858 km, Cote d'Ivoire 532 km, Mauritania 2,237 km, Niger 821 km, Senegal 419 km
<item><hi format=bold>Coastline:</hi> 0 km (landlocked)
<item><hi format=bold>International disputes:</hi> 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
<item><hi format=bold>Climate:</hi> subtropical to arid; hot and dry February to June; rainy, humid, and mild June to November; cool and dry November to February
<item><hi format=bold>Terrain:</hi> mostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand; savanna in south, rugged hills in northeast
<item><hi format=bold>Natural resources:</hi> gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium, bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits are known but not exploited
<item><hi format=bold>Land use:</hi>
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>arable land:</hi> 2%
<item>• <hi format=ital>permanent crops:</hi> 0%
<item>• <hi format=ital>meadows and pastures:</hi> 25%
<item>• <hi format=ital>forest and woodland:</hi> 7%
<item>• <hi format=ital>other:</hi> 66%
</list>
<item><hi format=bold>Irrigated land:</hi> 50 sq km (1989 est.)