:Geography of Gabon
{{Short description|none}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2019}}
{{Infobox country geography
| name = Gabon
{{lang|fr|République Gabonaise}}
| map size =
| continent = Africa
| region = Central Africa
| coordinates = {{Coord|1|00|N|11|45|E|type:country}}
| area ranking = 77th
| km area = 267,667
| percent water = 3.7
| km coastline = 885
| borders =
| highest point = Mont Bengoué, 1070 m (not Mont Iboundji as claimed by some authorities)
| lowest point = Atlantic Ocean, 0 m
| longest river = Ogooué River
| largest lake =
| climate = Tropical monsoon ('Am'), Tropical savanna ('Aw'); always hot, humid
| terrain = narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and south
| natural resources = Petroleum, natural gas, diamond, niobium, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore, hydropower
| natural hazards =
| environmental issues = deforestation, poaching
}}
File:Koppen-Geiger Map GAB present.svg
{{MapLibrary|Gabon_sat.png|Gabon}}
Gabon is a country in Central Africa, lying along the Atlantic Ocean, just south of the Bight of Biafra.
Area and borders
; Area:
:* Total: 267,668 km²
:**country rank in the world: 76th/77th
:* Land: 257,670 km²
:* Water: 10,000 km²
; Area comparative
:* Australia comparative: approximately {{sfrac|1|6}} larger than Victoria
:* Canada comparative: approximately {{sfrac|2|3}} the size of Newfoundland and Labrador
:* United Kingdom comparative: approximately {{sfrac|1|10}} larger than the United Kingdom
:* United States comparative: slightly smaller than Colorado
:* EU comparative: approximately {{sfrac|1|10}} smaller than Italy
Gabon has a total of 3,261 km of international boundaries. It borders Equatorial Guinea (335 km) and Cameroon (349 km) to the north and the Republic of the Congo (2,567 km) to the east and south. Gabon lies on the equator.
; Maritime claims:
:* Territorial sea: {{convert|12|nmi|km|abbr=on}}
:* Contiguous zone: {{convert|24|nmi|km|abbr=on|lk=in}}
:* Exclusive economic zone: {{convert|200|nmi|km|abbr=on}}
Terrain
| class="infobox" style="clear:none"
! Land Use | (2012) |
| • Arable land
|1.26% |
|---|
| • Permanent crops
|0.66% |
| • Other
| 98.08% |
File:Share_Of_Forest_Area_In_Total_Land_Area,_Top_Countries_(2021).svg
Narrow coastal plain with patches of Central African mangroves; hilly interior; savanna in east and south. A recent global remote sensing analysis suggested that there were 420 km2 of tidal flats in Gabon, making it the 50th ranked country in terms of tidal flat area.{{cite journal |last1=Murray |first1=N.J. |last2=Phinn |first2=S.R. |last3=DeWitt |first3=M. |last4=Ferrari |first4=R. |last5=Johnston |first5=R. |last6=Lyons |first6=M.B. |last7=Clinton |first7=N. |last8=Thau |first8=D. |last9=Fuller |first9=R.A. |title=The global distribution and trajectory of tidal flats |journal=Nature |date=2019 |volume=565 |issue=7738 |pages=222–225 |doi=10.1038/s41586-018-0805-8 |pmid=30568300 |s2cid=56481043 |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-018-0805-8}}
- Irrigated land: 44.5 km2 (2003)
- Total renewable water resources: 164 km3 (2011)
Environment
International agreements:
Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
Climate
The equatorial location of Gabon means that it has a tropical monsoon climate (Köppen Am) and a tropical savanna climate (Köppen Aw), with the temperature being hot year-round and humid, although the Benguela Current can moderate temperatures.
{{Weather box|width = auto
|collapsed = yes
|location = Libreville (1961–1990)
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan high C = 29.5
|Feb high C = 30.0
|Mar high C = 30.2
|Apr high C = 30.1
|May high C = 29.4
|Jun high C = 27.6
|Jul high C = 26.4
|Aug high C = 26.8
|Sep high C = 27.5
|Oct high C = 28.0
|Nov high C = 28.4
|Dec high C = 29.0
|year high C = 28.6
|Jan mean C = 26.8
|Feb mean C = 27.0
|Mar mean C = 27.1
|Apr mean C = 26.6
|May mean C = 26.7
|Jun mean C = 25.4
|Jul mean C = 24.3
|Aug mean C = 24.3
|Sep mean C = 25.4
|Oct mean C = 25.7
|Nov mean C = 25.9
|Dec mean C = 26.2
|year mean C = 25.9
|Jan low C = 24.1
|Feb low C = 24.0
|Mar low C = 23.9
|Apr low C = 23.1
|May low C = 24.0
|Jun low C = 23.2
|Jul low C = 22.1
|Aug low C = 21.8
|Sep low C = 23.2
|Oct low C = 23.4
|Nov low C = 23.4
|Dec low C = 23.4
|year low C = 23.3
|rain colour=green
|Jan rain mm = 250.3
|Feb rain mm = 243.1
|Mar rain mm = 363.2
|Apr rain mm = 339.0
|May rain mm = 247.3
|Jun rain mm = 54.1
|Jul rain mm = 6.6
|Aug rain mm = 13.7
|Sep rain mm = 104.0
|Oct rain mm = 427.2
|Nov rain mm = 490.0
|Dec rain mm = 303.2
|year rain mm = 2841.7
|Jan rain days = 17.9
|Feb rain days = 14.8
|Mar rain days = 19.5
|Apr rain days = 19.2
|May rain days = 16.0
|Jun rain days = 3.7
|Jul rain days = 1.7
|Aug rain days = 4.9
|Sep rain days = 14.5
|Oct rain days = 25.0
|Nov rain days = 22.6
|Dec rain days = 17.6
|year rain days = 177.4
|Jan humidity = 86
|Feb humidity = 84
|Mar humidity = 84
|Apr humidity = 84
|May humidity = 84
|Jun humidity = 81
|Jul humidity = 81
|Aug humidity = 81
|Sep humidity = 84
|Oct humidity = 87
|Nov humidity = 87
|Dec humidity = 86
|year humidity = 84
|Jan sun = 175.2
|Feb sun = 176.8
|Mar sun = 176.9
|Apr sun = 176.8
|May sun = 159.5
|Jun sun = 130.6
|Jul sun = 119.2
|Aug sun = 90.4
|Sep sun = 95.9
|Oct sun = 112.9
|Nov sun = 134.6
|Dec sun = 167.8
|year sun = 1716.6
{{cite web
| url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG__I/GN/64500.TXT
| title = Libreville Climate Normals 1961–1990
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = September 10, 2015}}
|date=March 2011
}}
{{Weather box
|width = auto
|collapsed = yes
|metric first=yes
|single line=yes
|location=Port-Gentil (1961–1990, extremes 1950–present)
|Jan record high C=32.6
|Feb record high C=38.0
|Mar record high C=34.6
|Apr record high C=33.7
|May record high C=33.2
|Jun record high C=33.2
|Jul record high C=30.8
|Aug record high C=33.1
|Sep record high C=33.3
|Oct record high C=33.0
|Nov record high C=34.0
|Dec record high C=35.0
|year record high C=38.0
|Jan high C=29.5
|Feb high C=30.2
|Mar high C=30.3
|Apr high C=30.0
|May high C=29.0
|Jun high C=26.7
|Jul high C=25.9
|Aug high C=27.4
|Sep high C=27.7
|Oct high C=28.3
|Nov high C=28.6
|Dec high C=29.0
|year high C=28.5
|Jan mean C=26.9
|Feb mean C=27.3
|Mar mean C=27.3
|Apr mean C=27.1
|May mean C=26.6
|Jun mean C=24.4
|Jul mean C=23.5
|Aug mean C=24.7
|Sep mean C=25.4
|Oct mean C=25.9
|Nov mean C=26.1
|Dec mean C=26.5
|year mean C=26.0
|Jan low C=24.2
|Feb low C=24.4
|Mar low C=24.3
|Apr low C=24.2
|May low C=24.1
|Jun low C=22.0
|Jul low C=21.1
|Aug low C=21.9
|Sep low C=23.0
|Oct low C=23.5
|Nov low C=23.5
|Dec low C=24.0
|year low C=23.3
|Jan record low C=17.6
|Feb record low C=19.4
|Mar record low C=19.5
|Apr record low C=18.0
|May record low C=19.0
|Jun record low C=16.4
|Jul record low C=16.0
|Aug record low C=13.2
|Sep record low C=18.2
|Oct record low C=19.5
|Nov record low C=15.8
|Dec record low C=18.2
|year record low C=13.2
|precipitation colour=green
|Jan precipitation mm=247.8
|Feb precipitation mm=177.8
|Mar precipitation mm=266.8
|Apr precipitation mm=299.3
|May precipitation mm=150.6
|Jun precipitation mm=11.5
|Jul precipitation mm=3.4
|Aug precipitation mm=5.0
|Sep precipitation mm=31.8
|Oct precipitation mm=179.9
|Nov precipitation mm=352.2
|Dec precipitation mm=227.1
|year precipitation mm=1953.2
|Jan humidity=84
|Feb humidity=84
|Mar humidity=83
|Apr humidity=84
|May humidity=85
|Jun humidity=84
|Jul humidity=83
|Aug humidity=82
|Sep humidity=82
|Oct humidity=84
|Nov humidity=86
|Dec humidity=84
|year humidity=84
|Jan precipitation days = 14.8
|Feb precipitation days = 12.7
|Mar precipitation days = 16.4
|Apr precipitation days = 15.5
|May precipitation days = 10.2
|Jun precipitation days = 0.9
|Jul precipitation days = 0.5
|Aug precipitation days = 3.4
|Sep precipitation days = 9.0
|Oct precipitation days = 17.4
|Nov precipitation days = 19.6
|Dec precipitation days = 13.9
|year precipitation days = 134.3
|Jan sun = 150.4
|Feb sun = 160.8
|Mar sun = 154.5
|Apr sun = 151.5
|May sun = 147.8
|Jun sun = 156.3
|Jul sun = 163.1
|Aug sun = 135.3
|Sep sun = 125.7
|Oct sun = 116.1
|Nov sun = 115.1
|Dec sun = 147.2
|year sun = 1723.8
|source 1 = NOAA{{cite web
| url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG__I/GN/64501.TXT
| title = Port-Gentil Climate Normals 1961–1990
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = March 8, 2015}}
|source 2 = Meteo Climat (record highs and lows)
{{cite web
| url = http://meteo-climat-bzh.dyndns.org/index.php?page=stati&id=1519
| title = Station Port Gentil
| publisher = Meteo Climat
|language = fr
| access-date = 11 June 2016}}
}}
{{Weather box
|location = Lambaréné (1961–1990)
|single line = Yes
|metric first = Yes
|width = auto
|collapsed = yes
|Jan high C = 31.5
|Feb high C = 32.2
|Mar high C = 32.3
|Apr high C = 32.5
|May high C = 31.3
|Jun high C = 28.9
|Jul high C = 27.9
|Aug high C = 28.4
|Sep high C = 30.0
|Oct high C = 31.0
|Nov high C = 30.8
|Dec high C = 30.9
|year high C = 30.6
|Jan mean C = 27.2
|Feb mean C = 27.6
|Mar mean C = 27.6
|Apr mean C = 27.8
|May mean C = 27.2
|Jun mean C = 25.3
|Jul mean C = 23.9
|Aug mean C = 24.7
|Sep mean C = 26.1
|Oct mean C = 26.9
|Nov mean C = 26.9
|Dec mean C = 27.1
|year mean C = 26.5
|Jan low C = 22.9
|Feb low C = 22.9
|Mar low C = 22.8
|Apr low C = 23.1
|May low C = 23.1
|Jun low C = 21.7
|Jul low C = 19.9
|Aug low C = 20.9
|Sep low C = 22.2
|Oct low C = 22.8
|Nov low C = 23.0
|Dec low C = 23.2
|year low C = 22.4
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 175.3
|Feb precipitation mm = 145.2
|Mar precipitation mm = 253.8
|Apr precipitation mm = 212.8
|May precipitation mm = 162.2
|Jun precipitation mm = 20.9
|Jul precipitation mm = 3.2
|Aug precipitation mm = 6.9
|Sep precipitation mm = 71.0
|Oct precipitation mm = 347.7
|Nov precipitation mm = 393.9
|Dec precipitation mm = 172.0
|year precipitation mm = 1968.9
|Jan humidity = 83
|Feb humidity = 81
|Mar humidity = 81
|Apr humidity = 81
|May humidity = 83
|Jun humidity = 84
|Jul humidity = 82
|Aug humidity = 81
|Sep humidity = 80
|Oct humidity = 81
|Nov humidity = 83
|Dec humidity = 84
|year humidity = 82
|Jan precipitation days = 12.1
|Feb precipitation days = 10.7
|Mar precipitation days = 15.0
|Apr precipitation days = 14.1
|May precipitation days = 13.8
|Jun precipitation days = 2.9
|Jul precipitation days = 2.1
|Aug precipitation days = 5.1
|Sep precipitation days = 9.6
|Oct precipitation days = 21.9
|Nov precipitation days = 20.8
|Dec precipitation days = 12.5
|year precipitation days = 140.6
|Jan sun = 142.9
|Feb sun = 145.2
|Mar sun = 145.1
|Apr sun = 143.1
|May sun = 123.9
|Jun sun = 74.2
|Jul sun = 70.6
|Aug sun = 53.4
|Sep sun = 55.9
|Oct sun = 70.9
|Nov sun = 117.1
|Dec sun = 129.4
|year sun = 1271.7
|source 1 = NOAA{{cite web
| url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG__I/GN/64551.TXT
| title = Lambarn (Lambaréné) Climate Normals 1961–1990
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| accessdate = 6 November 2016}}
}}
{{Weather box
|location = Makokou (1961–1990, extremes 1949–present)
|single line = Yes
|metric first = Yes
|width = auto
|collapsed = yes
|Jan record high C = 34.0
|Feb record high C = 41.5
|Mar record high C = 37.0
|Apr record high C = 39.5
|May record high C = 41.1
|Jun record high C = 37.3
|Jul record high C = 32.5
|Aug record high C = 33.0
|Sep record high C = 35.4
|Oct record high C = 37.2
|Nov record high C = 36.0
|Dec record high C = 33.5
|year record high C = 41.5
|Jan high C = 29.2
|Feb high C = 30.1
|Mar high C = 30.5
|Apr high C = 30.5
|May high C = 29.8
|Jun high C = 27.7
|Jul high C = 25.8
|Aug high C = 26.6
|Sep high C = 28.7
|Oct high C = 29.2
|Nov high C = 28.7
|Dec high C = 27.6
|year high C = 28.7
|Jan mean C = 24.4
|Feb mean C = 24.9
|Mar mean C = 25.2
|Apr mean C = 25.3
|May mean C = 24.8
|Jun mean C = 23.4
|Jul mean C = 22.2
|Aug mean C = 22.5
|Sep mean C = 24.0
|Oct mean C = 24.4
|Nov mean C = 24.1
|Dec mean C = 23.5
|year mean C = 24.1
|Jan low C = 19.5
|Feb low C = 19.7
|Mar low C = 19.8
|Apr low C = 20.0
|May low C = 19.8
|Jun low C = 19.0
|Jul low C = 18.6
|Aug low C = 18.4
|Sep low C = 19.2
|Oct low C = 19.5
|Nov low C = 19.5
|Dec low C = 19.3
|year low C = 19.4
|Jan record low C = 15.9
|Feb record low C = 15.0
|Mar record low C = 16.3
|Apr record low C = 16.6
|May record low C = 16.8
|Jun record low C = 14.2
|Jul record low C = 11.5
|Aug record low C = 13.0
|Sep record low C = 13.5
|Oct record low C = 15.0
|Nov record low C = 17.0
|Dec record low C = 15.2
|year record low C = 11.5
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 88.1
|Feb precipitation mm = 106.9
|Mar precipitation mm = 190.0
|Apr precipitation mm = 206.7
|May precipitation mm = 187.7
|Jun precipitation mm = 54.1
|Jul precipitation mm = 9.0
|Aug precipitation mm = 29.3
|Sep precipitation mm = 142.9
|Oct precipitation mm = 297.3
|Nov precipitation mm = 225.7
|Dec precipitation mm = 103.3
|year precipitation mm = 1641.0
|Jan humidity = 82
|Feb humidity = 79
|Mar humidity = 79
|Apr humidity = 79
|May humidity = 80
|Jun humidity = 83
|Jul humidity = 85
|Aug humidity = 83
|Sep humidity = 80
|Oct humidity = 80
|Nov humidity = 81
|Dec humidity = 83
|year humidity = 81
|Jan precipitation days = 7.3
|Feb precipitation days = 8.9
|Mar precipitation days = 13.7
|Apr precipitation days = 14.7
|May precipitation days = 15.4
|Jun precipitation days = 6.5
|Jul precipitation days = 2.6
|Aug precipitation days = 3.6
|Sep precipitation days = 11.2
|Oct precipitation days = 20.9
|Nov precipitation days = 17.9
|Dec precipitation days = 8.8
|year precipitation days = 131.5
|Jan sun = 131.6
|Feb sun = 137.4
|Mar sun = 158.2
|Apr sun = 160.5
|May sun = 150.4
|Jun sun = 101.5
|Jul sun = 60.9
|Aug sun = 58.1
|Sep sun = 95.5
|Oct sun = 134.1
|Nov sun = 132.3
|Dec sun = 122.8
|year sun = 1443.3
|source 1 = NOAA{{cite web
| url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG__I/GN/64556.TXT
| title = Makokou Climate Normals 1961–1990
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| accessdate = 6 November 2016}}
|source 2 = Meteo Climat (record highs and lows)
{{cite web
| url = http://meteo-climat-bzh.dyndns.org/index.php?page=stati&id=1522
| title = Station Makokou
| publisher = Meteo Climat
| language = French
| accessdate = 6 November 2016}}
}}
= Climate change =
Gabon is highly vulnerable to climate change due to its dense coastal population, economic hubs along the shore, and dependence on rain-fed agriculture.{{Cite web |last=World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal |title=Gabon |url=https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/country/gabon# |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org |language=en}} Rising sea levels threaten to erode the coastline and contaminate freshwater sources with saltwater. The country is already experiencing more frequent and severe extreme weather events, such as floods, droughts, and storms, which damage infrastructure, displace communities, and disrupt food security and livelihoods.{{Cite web |last=Othering & Belonging Institute |title=Gabon Case Study |url=https://belonging.berkeley.edu/climatedisplacement/case-studies/gabon |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=belonging.berkeley.edu}}
To adapt, Gabon prioritises protecting its coastal areas, as well as its fishing, agriculture, and forestry industries. Gabon's vast forests act as a net carbon sink.{{Cite web |last=UNDP Biofin |title=Gabon |url=https://www.biofin.org/gabon#: |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=BIOFIN |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=UNFCCC |url=https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/FSVR1_GAB_Jun2024.pdf |title=Record of the facilitative sharing of views at the sixtieth session of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation: Gabon |publication-date=5 August 2024}} It is recognized as a global leader in climate action and is widely considered the most carbon-positive country in the world, due to its strong conservation efforts. However, Gabon’s economy remains heavily dependent on oil and other natural resources, leaving it exposed to global market shifts and climate-related risks. In 2023, the country accounted for just over 0.04% of global greenhouse gas emissions (24.7 million tonnes). Gabon has pledged to stay carbon neutral beyond 2050 and, with adequate support, aims to maintain net carbon removals of 100 million tons CO₂ equivalent per year beyond that date.{{Cite web |last=Climate Watch |title=Gabon |url=https://www.climatewatchdata.org/countries/GAB?end_year=2021&start_year=1990 |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=www.climatewatchdata.org}} It also seeks to expand its renewable energy sector.{{Cite web |title=National Climate Plan (Plan Climat) - Climate Change Laws of the World |url=https://climate-laws.org/document/national-climate-plan-plan-climat_082c |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=climate-laws.org}}
Extreme points
- Northernmost point - unnamed location on the border with Cameroon on the Ntem River, Woleu-Ntem province
- Easternmost point - the unnamed location on the border with the Republic of Congo immediately south-west of the Congolese village of Mbeyi-Mbola, Haut-Ogooué province
- Southernmost point - the point at which the border with the Republic of Congo enters the Atlantic Ocean, Nyanga Province
- Westernmost point - the north-west point of Cape Lopez, Ogooué Maritime province
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{CIA World Factbook}}