Английская Википедия:Geography of Western Sahara

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Файл:Western Sahara Topography.png

Topography of Western Sahara

Файл:Desert Coast—Morocco, Western Sahara.jpg

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 Шаблон:Convert 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.

Western Sahara is a territory in Northern Africa, bordered by the North Atlantic Ocean, Morocco proper, Algeria (Tindouf region), and Mauritania. Geographic coordinates: Шаблон:Coord

Size

Total: Шаблон:Convert, about the size of Colorado

land: Шаблон:Convert

water: Шаблон:Convert

• Coastline: Шаблон:Convert
• Land boundaries: Шаблон:Convert – Algeria: Шаблон:Convert, Mauritania: Шаблон:Convert, Morocco: Шаблон:Convert
• Saguia el-Hamra is the northern third with the city El Aaiún.
• Río de Oro is the southern two-thirds (south of Cape Bojador), with the city Dakhla.

The peninsula in the extreme southwest, with the city of Lagouira, is called Ras Nouadhibou, Cabo Blanco, or Cap Blanc. The eastern side is part of Mauritania.

Maritime claims: contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue

Land

Terrain

The terrain is mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast.

Elevation extremes:

Lowest point: Sebjet Tah, Шаблон:Convert, a depression in the northwest part of Western Sahara straddling the Morocco border

Highest point: Unnamed elevation, Шаблон:Convert, east of Awsard (Aousserd)

Natural resources

Phosphates, iron ore, and fishing resources on Atlantic Ocean coast

Land use

Arable land: 0.02%

• Permanent crops: 0%
• Other: 99.98% (2005)

Irrigated land: N/A

Natural hazards

Hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility. Flash flooding occurs during spring months.

Environment

Climate

Western Sahara has a hot desert climate (Köppen climate classification BWh). Annual average rainfall is below Шаблон:Convert everywhere. Along the Atlantic coast, averages high and low temperatures are constant and very moderated throughout the year because cool offshore ocean currents considerably cool off the climate, especially during the day. However, summertime is long and extremely hot and wintertime is short and very warm to truly hot further in the interior, where cooling marine influences aren't felt anymore. Average high temperatures exceed Шаблон:Convert in summer during a prolonged period of time but can reach as high as Шаблон:Convert or even more in places such as Smara, Tichla, Bir Gandus, Bir Anzarane, Aghouinite, Aousserd and others. Average high temperatures exceed Шаблон:Convert in winter but average low temperatures can drop to Шаблон:Convert in some places. The sky is usually clear and bright throughout the year and sunny weather is the norm.

Current issues

Шаблон:Expand section Sparse water and lack of arable land.

Extreme points

This is a list of the extreme points of Western Sahara, the points that are farther north, south, east or west than any other location.

• Northernmost points – the border with Morocco*
• Easternmost points – the northern section of the border with Mauritania/Algeria**
• Southernmost point – the southern tip of Ras Nouadhibou (Cabo Blanco/Cap Blanc)
• Westernmost point – Cape Dubouchage on Ras Nouadhibou
  • Note: Western Sahara does not have a northernmost point, the border being formed by a circle of latitude
  • Note: Western Sahara does not have an easternmost point, the border being formed by a meridian