NAVIGATION
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NAVIGATION
Western Sahara
former: Spanish Sahara
INTRODUCTION
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Background:
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Morocco virtually annexed the northern two-thirds of Western Sahara (formerly Spanish Sahara) in 1976, and the rest of the territory in 1979, following Mauritania's withdrawal. A guerrilla war with the Polisario Front contesting Rabat's sovereignty ended in a 1991 UN-brokered cease-fire; a UN-organized referendum on final status has been repeatedly postponed. |
GEOGRAPHY
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Location:
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Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco |
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Geographic coordinates:
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24 30 N, 13 00 W |
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Map references:
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Africa |
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Area:
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total: 266,000 sq km
water: 0 sq km land: 266,000 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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about the size of Colorado |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 2,046 km
border countries: Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km |
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Coastline:
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1,110 km |
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Maritime claims:
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contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue |
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Climate:
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hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew |
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Terrain:
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mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Sebjet Tah -55 m
highest point: unnamed location 463 m |
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Natural resources:
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phosphates, iron ore |
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Land use:
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arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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NA sq km |
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Natural hazards:
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hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility |
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Environment - current issues:
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sparse water and lack of arable land |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
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Geography - note:
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the waters off the coast are particularly rich fishing areas |
PEOPLE
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Population:
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261,794 (July 2003 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: NA%
15-64 years: NA% 65 years and over: NA% (2003 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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NA% (2003 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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NA births/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Death rate:
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NA deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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NA (2003 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: NA%
male: NA% female: NA% |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: NA years
male: NA years female: NA years (2003 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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NA children born/woman (2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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NA% |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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NA |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA |
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Nationality:
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noun: Sahrawi(s), Sahraoui(s)
adjective: Sahrawian, Sahraouian |
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Ethnic groups:
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Arab, Berber |
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Religions:
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Muslim |
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Languages:
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Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic |
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Literacy:
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definition: NA
total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% |