View source for Geography of Sierra Leone

{{Short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->
{{Infobox country geography
| name = Sierra Leone 
| map = Satellite image of Sierra Leone in February 2003.jpg
| continent = Africa
| region = Western [[Africa]]
| coordinates = {{Coord|08|30|00|N|12|06|00|W|type:country}}
| area ranking = 
| km area = 73,252
| percent land = 99.8
| km coastline = 402<ref name="WFact">{{cite web |title=Sierra Leone |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/sierra-leone/ |website=World Factbook |publisher=CIA.gov |access-date=14 November 2021}}</ref>
| exclusive economic zone =
| borders =

<!--unknown params:
| northernmost point = 
| southernmost point = 
| easternmost point = 
| westernmost point = 
| geographic center = -->
| highest point = [[Mount Bintumani]] {{convert|1948|meters|feet|0}}<ref name="WFact" />
| lowest point = Atlantic Ocean 0m
| longest river = [[Rokel River]] {{convert|400|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref name="Brit">{{cite web |title=Rokel River |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Rokel-River |website=Britannia |access-date=14 November 2021}}</ref>
| largest lake =  [[Lake Sonfon]] {{convert|8.2|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}<ref name="GNFund">{{cite web |title=Lake Sonfon – Sierra Leone |url=https://www.globalnature.org/en/living-lakes/africa/sonfon-lake |website=Living Lakes |publisher=Global Nature Fund |access-date=14 November 2021}}</ref>
| climate =  [[tropical]] 
| terrain = coastal belt of [[mangrove swamp]]s, wooded hill country, an upland [[plateau]], mountains in the east<ref name="WFact" />
| natural resources = mineral deposits ([[diamond]]s, [[titanium]] ore, [[bauxite]], iron ore, gold, [[chromite]])<ref name="WFact" />
| natural hazards = dry, sand-laden [[Harmattan]] winds blow from the [[Sahara]] (December to February); sandstorms, dust storms<ref name="WFact" />
| environmental issues = rapid population growth; [[deforestation]] from increased cattle grazing and agriculture, [[land degradation]] and flooding; [[biodiversity loss]]; air and water pollution; overfishing<ref name="WFact" />
}}

<!-- As it is hard to use this article's title (so it can be bolded), it's better to omit it. This is perfectly OK per [[WP:BOLDTITLE]]/Descriptive titles, and the article became featured in such a state. -->
[[:Sierra Leone]] is a country in [[West Africa]] with a [[North Atlantic Ocean]] [[coast]]line to the west. It lies on the [[African Plate]]. The country's main [[geography|geographical]] features include wooded hill country, an upland [[plateau]], and mountains in the east. The highest peak is [[Mount Bintumani]], which is {{convert|1948|meters|feet|0}} above sea level. The coastline has a belt of [[mangrove swamp]]s. Freetown, the nation's capital city, has one of the world's largest natural harbours.<ref name="SLeoBrit">{{cite web |title=Sierra Leone |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Sierra-Leone |website=Britannia |access-date=14 November 2021}}</ref> The [[Rokel River]] is the largest river in Sierra Leone. It is {{convert|400|km}} long and has a basin with a total area of {{convert|10622|km2}}.

Sierra Leone is located at approximately {{coord|8.5|N|12.1|W|type:country|display=inline,title}}, between the [[7th parallel north|7th]] and [[10th parallel north|10th parallels]] north of the [[equator]]. It is bordered by [[Guinea]] to the north and northeast, and [[Liberia]] to the south and southeast.{{sfn|LeVert|2007|p=7}} The country has a total area of {{convert|73252|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}}, divided into a land area of {{convert|73132|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}} and water of {{convert|120|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="WFact" />

==Physical geography==
[[File:Sierra Leone Topography.png|thumb|left|Sierra Leone's topography]]
Sierra Leone is located on the west coast of Africa, between the [[7th parallel north|7th]] and [[10th parallel north|10th parallels]] north of the [[equator]]. Sierra Leone is bordered by [[Guinea]] to the north and northeast, [[Liberia]] to the south and southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west.{{sfn|LeVert|2007|p=7}} The country has a total area of {{convert|73253|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}}, divided into a land area of {{convert|73132|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}} and water of {{convert|120|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="WFact" />

Sierra Leone has four distinct geographical regions: coastal [[Guinean mangroves]], the wooded hill country, an upland [[plateau]], and the eastern mountains.  Eastern Sierra Leone is an interior region of large plateaus interspersed with high mountains, where [[Mount Bintumani]] rises to {{convert|1948|m|ft|0|sp=us}}.{{sfn|LeVert|2007|p=7}}
{{Further|Kambui Hills Forest Reserve}}

===Geology===
Sierra Leone can be split into three geological areas, in the east is part of the [[West African craton]], the western area consists of the Rokelides, an [[orogenic]] belt, and a 20- to 30-km coastal strip of [[sediment]]s.{{sfn|Schlüter|Trauth|2008|p=220}}

=== Extreme points ===
This is a list of the extreme points of Sierra Leone, the points that are farther north, south, east or west than any other location.

* Northernmost point – the northern section of the border with Guinea, [[Northern Province, Sierra Leone|Northern Province]]*
* Easternmost point – the [[tripoint]] with Guinea and [[Liberia]], [[Eastern Province, Sierra Leone|Eastern Province]]
* Southernmost point – unnamed [[peninsula]] south of the town of Mano Salija at the mouth of the [[Mano River]], [[Southern Province, Sierra Leone|Southern Province]]
* Westernmost point –  the point at which the border with Guinea enters the Atlantic Ocean, [[North West Province, Sierra Leone|North West Province]]
* *''Note: Sierra Leone does not have a northernmost point, the border being formed here by [[10th parallel north]]''

== Climate ==
[[File:Koppen-Geiger_Map_v2_SLE_1991–2020.svg|thumb|left|Sierra Leone map of Köppen climate classification areas]]
The [[climate]] is [[tropical]]; although it could be classified as a [[tropical monsoon climate]], it could also be described as a climate that is transitional between a continually wet [[tropical rainforest climate]] and a [[tropical savanna climate]].{{sfn|Gabler|Petersen|Trapasso|Sack|2008|p=238}}

There are two seasons; dry season (November{{snd}}May) and rainy season (June{{snd}}October).

December to January are the coolest months of the year, although temperatures can still exceed {{convert|40|°C|disp=or}}, lower to moderate humidity makes the heat around this time of the year more tolerable. Unlike March and April, the months that it gets hot and humid with temperatures around {{convert|33|to|36|°C|°F|disp=or}} and a solid 50% humidity, making the heat index higher than the actual temperature. The average sea temperature is {{convert|30|°C|°F|disp=or}}.<ref name="WFact" />{{sfn|Blinker|2006|p=12}}{{sfn|LeVert|2007|p=8}}

Average rainfall is highest at the coast, {{convert|3000|to|5000|mm|in|-1|disp=or}} per year; moving inland this decreases and at the eastern border of the country, the average rainfall is {{convert|2000|to|2500|mm|in|-1|disp=or}}.{{sfn|Hughes|Hughes|1992|p=435}}

{{Weather box|width = auto
|location = Freetown, Sierra Leone (1961-1990, extremes 1947-1990)
|metric first = yes
|collapsed = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 36.0
|Feb record high C = 38.0
|Mar record high C = 38.0
|Apr record high C = 38.5
|May record high C = 35.0
|Jun record high C = 35.0
|Jul record high C = 33.0
|Aug record high C = 32.0
|Sep record high C = 31.0
|Oct record high C = 35.0
|Nov record high C = 36.5
|Dec record high C = 33.5
|year record high C = 38.5
|Jan high C = 29.9
|Feb high C = 30.3
|Mar high C = 30.9
|Apr high C = 31.2
|May high C = 30.9
|Jun high C = 30.1
|Jul high C = 28.7
|Aug high C = 28.4
|Sep high C = 29.0
|Oct high C = 29.9
|Nov high C = 30.1
|Dec high C = 29.7
|year high C = 
|Jan mean C = 27.3
|Feb mean C = 27.6
|Mar mean C = 28.1
|Apr mean C = 28.5
|May mean C = 28.3
|Jun mean C = 27.4
|Jul mean C = 26.3
|Aug mean C = 25.9
|Sep mean C = 26.4
|Oct mean C = 27.1
|Nov mean C = 27.7
|Dec mean C = 27.5
|year mean C = 
|Jan low C = 23.8
|Feb low C = 24.0
|Mar low C = 24.4
|Apr low C = 24.8
|May low C = 24.4
|Jun low C = 23.6
|Jul low C = 23.1
|Aug low C = 23.0
|Sep low C = 23.1
|Oct low C = 23.4
|Nov low C = 24.0
|Dec low C = 24.1
|year low C = 
|Jan record low C = 15.0
|Feb record low C = 17.8
|Mar record low C = 19.4
|Apr record low C = 20.0
|May record low C = 20.6
|Jun record low C = 20.0
|Jul record low C = 19.4
|Aug record low C = 19.4
|Sep record low C = 20.0
|Oct record low C = 19.4
|Nov record low C = 20.0
|Dec record low C = 15.6
|year record low C = 
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 8.0
|Feb rain mm = 6.0
|Mar rain mm = 28.0
|Apr rain mm = 68.0
|May rain mm = 214.0
|Jun rain mm = 522.0
|Jul rain mm = 1190.0
|Aug rain mm = 1078.0
|Sep rain mm = 800.0
|Oct rain mm = 333.0
|Nov rain mm = 148.0
|Dec rain mm = 38.0
|Jan rain days = 0
|Feb rain days = 0
|Mar rain days = 1
|Apr rain days = 4
|May rain days = 15
|Jun rain days = 22
|Jul rain days = 27
|Aug rain days = 27
|Sep rain days = 24
|Oct rain days = 21
|Nov rain days = 9
|Dec rain days = 2
|year rain days = 
|Jan humidity = 66
|Feb humidity = 67
|Mar humidity = 67
|Apr humidity = 68
|May humidity = 73
|Jun humidity = 76
|Jul humidity = 81
|Aug humidity = 82
|Sep humidity = 80
|Oct humidity = 78
|Nov humidity = 76
|Dec humidity = 69
|year humidity = 
|Jan sun = 226.3
|Feb sun = 215.6
|Mar sun = 232.5
|Apr sun = 207.0
|May sun = 189.1
|Jun sun = 153.0
|Jul sun = 102.3
|Aug sun = 86.8
|Sep sun = 126.0
|Oct sun = 186.0
|Nov sun = 198.0
|Dec sun = 161.2
|year sun = 
|source = NOAA,<ref name= NOAAfreetown>{{cite web
| url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG__I/SL/61856.TXT
| title = Freetown Climate Normals 1961–1990
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240523003741/ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG__I/SL/61856.TXT
| archive-date = 2024-05-23
| url-status = dead
| access-date = February 7, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.weather.gov.hk/wxinfo/climat/world/eng/africa/w_afr/freetown_e.htm |title=Climatological Information for Freetown, Sierra Leone |publisher=[[Hong Kong Observatory]] |access-date=August 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021124020507/http://www.weather.gov.hk/wxinfo/climat/world/eng/africa/w_afr/freetown_e.htm |archive-date=November 24, 2002 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]] (extremes),<ref name = FreetownDWD>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_618560_kt.pdf
| title = Klimatafel von Freetown-Lunghi (Flugh.) / Sierra Leone
| work = Baseline climate means (1961–1990) from stations all over the world
| publisher = Deutscher Wetterdienst
| language = de
| access-date = February 7, 2016}}</ref> 
|source 2 = Worldwide Bioclimatic Classification System<ref>{{cite web
|url = https://www.globalbioclimatics.org/station/si-freet.htm 
|title = Sierra Leone — Freetown
|publisher= Worldwide Bioclimatic Classification System
|accessdate = July 24, 2021}}</ref>
}}

== Environment issues ==
{{main|Environmental issues in Sierra Leone}}
[[File:Outamba Kilimi 3 Hippos Sierra Leone.jpg|thumb|Hippopotami in the [[Outamba-Kilimi National Park]] in Sierra Leone's northwest.]]
Rapid population growth in Sierra Leone has put pressure upon the natural environment. Environmental problems include the [[overharvesting]] of timber, the expansion of cattle grazing and [[slash and burn]] agriculture have resulted in [[deforestation]] and soil exhaustion, and [[overfishing]].

Sierra Leone is party to several environmental agreements:<ref name="WFact" />
*[[Convention on Biological Diversity|Biodiversity]] (Convention on Biological Diversity)
*[[United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change|Climate Change]] (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change)
*[[United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification|Desertification]] (United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification)
*[[CITES|Endangered Species]] (CITES)
*[[United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea|Law of the Sea]] (UNCLOS or LOS)
*[[Convention on Fishing and Conservation of Living Resources of the High Seas|Marine Life Conservation]] (Convention on Fishing and Conservation of Living Resources of the High Seas)
*[[Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty|Nuclear Test Ban]] (CTBT)
*[[Ramsar Convention]](Wetlands)

Signed, but not ratified:
*[[Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques|Environmental Modification]] (ENMOD)

==General information==
[[File:LocationSierraLeone.svg|thumb|Location of Sierra Leone]]
[[File:SierraLeone2025OSM.png|thumb|Detailed map of Sierra Leone]] 
'''Geographic coordinates''': {{coord|8|30|N|11|30|W|type:country}}
; Area:
:* Total: 73,252 km²
:**''country rank in the world:'' 117th
:* Land: 73,132 km²
:* Water: 120 km²

; Area comparative
:* Australia comparative: slightly larger than [[Tasmania]]
:* Canada comparative: approximately the size of [[New Brunswick]]
:* United Kingdom comparative: slightly smaller than [[Scotland]]
:* United States comparative: approximately {{sfrac|1|7}} larger than [[West Virginia]]
:* [[European Union|EU]] comparative: slightly smaller than [[Ireland]]

;Land boundaries:
:*total: 1,093&nbsp;km
:*border countries: Guinea 794&nbsp;km, Liberia 299&nbsp;km

;Coastline: 402&nbsp;km

;Maritime claims:
:*territorial sea: {{convert|200|nmi|km mi|1|abbr=on|lk=in}}.
:*contiguous zone: {{convert|24|nmi|km mi|1|abbr=on|lk=}}.
:*exclusive economic zone: {{convert|200|nmi|km mi|1|abbr=on|lk=}}.
:*continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation.

;Climate: [[tropical monsoon climate|tropical monsoon]]; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April)

;Terrain: coastal belt of [[mangrove]] swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau, mountains in east

;Elevation extremes:
:*lowest point: [[Atlantic Ocean]] 0 m
:*highest point: [[Loma Mansa]] (Bintimani) 1,948 m

;Natural resources: [[diamond]]s, [[titanium|titanium ore]], [[bauxite]], [[iron|iron ore]], [[gold]], [[chromite]]

;Land use:
:*arable land: 24.4%
:*permanent crops: 2.3%
:*permanent pasture: 30.5%
:*forest: 37.5%
:*other: 6.3% (2011)

;Irrigated land: 300&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>; (2012)

;Total renewable water resources: 160&nbsp;km<sup>3</sup>; (2011)

;Natural hazards: dry, sand-laden [[harmattan]] winds blow from the [[Sahara]] (December to February); [[sandstorm]]s, [[dust storm]]s

==See also==
*[[Protected areas of Sierra Leone]]
*[[Administrative divisions of Sierra Leone]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
* {{cite journal |last1=Blinker |first1=Linda | url-status =dead | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20081001231356/http://www.delsle.ec.europa.eu/en/whatsnew/Docs/Final%20Report%20Country%20Environmental%20Profile%20%28CEP%29%20SL%2019-OCT-06.pdf | archive-date =1 October 2008 |title=Country Environment Profile (CEP) Sierra Leone |date=2006 |url=http://www.delsle.ec.europa.eu/en/whatsnew/Docs/Final%20Report%20Country%20Environmental%20Profile%20(CEP)%20SL%2019-OCT-06.pdf |access-date=25 September 2008 |publisher=Consortium Parsons Brinckerhoff |location=Freetown}}
* {{cite book |last1=Gabler |first1=Robert E. |last2=Petersen |first2=James F. |last3=Trapasso |first3=L. Michael |last4=Sack |first4=Dorothy |title=Physical Geography |date=2008 |publisher=Cengage Learning |isbn=978-0-495-55506-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VkVqmi0MO1IC&q=sierra+leone+%22tropical+monsoon%22&pg=PA238}}
* {{cite book |last1=Hughes |first1=R. H |last2=Hughes |first2=J. S. |title=A Directory of African Wetlands |date=1992 |publisher=IUCN |isbn=978-2-88032-949-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VLjafeXa3gMC&q=lake+sonfon&pg=PA439}}
* {{cite book | last =LeVert | first =Suzanne | date =2007 | title =Cultures of the World: Sierra Leone  | publisher =Marshall Cavendish | isbn =978-0-7614-2334-8 | url =https://archive.org/details/sierraleone0000leve/page/7 }}
* {{cite book| last1 =Schlüter | first1 =Thomas   |last2 =Trauth  | first2=Martin H.  |title = Geological Atlas of Africa: with notes on stratigraphy, tectonics, economic geology, geohazards, geosites and geoscientific education of each country| publisher = Springer | year = 2008 | page = |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IfvKWpsISTQC&q=sierra+leone+Geology&pg=PA220| isbn = 978-3-540-76324-6}}

{{Sierra Leone topics}}
{{Geography of Africa}}
{{Africa topic|Climate of}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Geography Of Sierra Leone}}
[[Category:Geography of Sierra Leone| ]]