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| Location: |
Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Suriname and Venezuela
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| Geographic coordinates: |
5 00 N, 59 00 W
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| Map references: |
South America
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| Area: |
total:
214,970 sq km
land:
196,850 sq km
water:
18,120 sq km
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| Area - comparative: |
slightly smaller than Idaho
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| Land boundaries: |
total:
2,462 km
border countries:
Brazil 1,119 km, Suriname 600 km, Venezuela 743 km
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| Maritime claims: |
continental shelf:
200 NM or to the outer edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone:
200 NM
territorial sea:
12 NM
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| Climate: |
tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; two rainy seasons (May to mid-August, mid-November to mid-January)
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| Terrain: |
mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south
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| Elevation extremes: |
lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Mount Roraima 2,835 m
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| Natural resources: |
bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp, fish
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| Land use: |
arable land:
2%
permanent crops:
0%
permanent pastures:
6%
forests and woodland:
84%
other:
8% (1993 est.)
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| Irrigated land: |
1,300 sq km (1993 est.)
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| Natural hazards: |
flash floods are a constant threat during rainy seasons
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| Environment - current issues: |
water pollution from sewage and agricultural and industrial chemicals; deforestation
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| Environment - international agreements: |
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
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