<hdr>The World Factbook 1994: Western Sahara<nl>Geography</hdr><body>
<list>
<item><hi format=bold>Location:</hi> Northern Africa, along the Atlantic Ocean, between Morocco and Mauritania
<item><hi format=bold>Area:</hi>
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>total area:</hi> 266,000 sq km
<item>• <hi format=ital>land area:</hi> 266,000 sq km
<item>• <hi format=ital>comparative area:</hi> slightly smaller than Colorado
</list>
<item><hi format=bold>Land boundaries:</hi> total 2,046 km, Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km
<item><hi format=bold>Coastline:</hi> 1,110 km
<item><hi format=bold>Maritime claims:</hi> contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue
<item><hi format=bold>International disputes:</hi> claimed and administered by Morocco, but sovereignty is unresolved and the UN is attempting to hold a referendum on the issue; the UN-administered cease-fire has been currently in effect since September 1991
<item><hi format=bold>Climate:</hi> hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew
<item><hi format=bold>Terrain:</hi> mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast
<item><hi format=bold>Natural resources:</hi> phosphates, iron ore
<item><hi format=bold>Land use:</hi>
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>arable land:</hi> 0%
<item>• <hi format=ital>permanent crops:</hi> 0%
<item>• <hi format=ital>meadows and pastures:</hi> 19%
<item>• <hi format=ital>forest and woodland:</hi> 0%
<item>• <hi format=ital>other:</hi> 81%
</list>
<item><hi format=bold>Irrigated land:</hi> NA sq km
<item><hi format=bold>Environment:</hi>
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>current issues:</hi> sparse water and arable land
<item>• <hi format=ital>natural hazards:</hi> hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility
<item>• <hi format=ital>international agreements:</hi> NA
