Geography of Western Sahara

Geography of Western Sahara


ContinentAfrica
RegionNorth Africa
Coordinates24°30′N 13°00′W / 24.500°N 13.000°W / 24.500; -13.000
AreaRanked 78th
 • Total266,000 km2 (103,000 sq mi)
Coastline1,110 km (690 mi)
Borders
  • 2,046 kilometres (1,271 mi)
  • (Algeria: 42 kilometres (26 mi)
  • Mauritania: 1,561 kilometres (970 mi)
  • Morocco: 443 kilometres (275 mi))
Highest pointunnamed elevation: 701 metres (2,300 ft)
Lowest pointSebjet Tah, −55 metres (−180 ft) [citation needed]
Satellite image of Western Sahara
Topography of Western Sahara
Desert Coast of Morocco and Western Sahara, 2014. North is to upper right corner of photo. Note the straight lines produced by strong northerly winds that blow parallel to the coast, producing wind streaks of sand and sand-free surfaces. Also note the transport corridor of roads, railroads and conveyor belt system (vertical line at left) that transport phosphates 100 kilometres (62 mi) from inland mines to the coast. Strong northerly winds blow dust and phosphate into the desert, giving a jagged edge to this line on its south side.[1]

Western Sahara is a territory in Northern Africa, bordered by the North Atlantic Ocean, Morocco proper, Algeria (Tindouf region), and Mauritania. Geographic coordinates: 24°30′N 13°00′W / 24.500°N 13.000°W / 24.500; -13.000

  1. ^ Desert Coast—Morocco, Western Sahara at NASA Earth Observatory