| Country name |
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Western Sahara
former: Spanish Sahara |
| Gevernment type | legal status of territory and issue of sovereignty unresolved; territory contested by Morocco and Polisario Front (Popular Front for the Liberation of the Saguia el Hamra and Rio de Oro), which in February 1976 formally proclaimed a government-in-exile of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), led by President Mohamed ABDELAZIZ; territory partitioned between Morocco and Mauritania in April 1976, with Morocco acquiring northern two-thirds; Mauritania, under pressure from Polisario guerrillas, abandoned all claims to its portion in August 1979; Morocco moved to occupy that sector shortly thereafter and has since asserted administrative control; the Polisario's government-in-exile was seated as an Organization of African Unity (OAU) member in 1984; guerrilla activities continued sporadically, until a UN-monitored cease-fire was implemented 6 September 1991 |
| Capital | none
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
| Flag description | three equal vertical bands of black (hoist), red, and green, with a gold emblem centered on the red band; the emblem features a temple-like structure encircled by a wreath on the left and right and by a bold Islamic inscription above |
| Currency | Moroccan dirham (MAD) |
| Internet country code | .eh |
| Ports and terminals | Ad Dakhla, Cabo Bojador, Laayoune (El Aaiun) |
| Agriculture products | fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases); camels, sheep, goats (kept by nomads); fish |
| Industries | phosphate mining, handicrafts |
| Location | Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco |
| Coordinates | 24 30 N, 13 00 W |
| Continent | Africa |
| Area |
total: 266,000 sq km
land: 266,000 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
| Boundaries |
total: 2,046 km
border countries: Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km |
| Coastline | 1,110 km |
| Climate | hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew |
| Terrain | mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast |
| Natural resources | phosphates, iron ore |
| 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 |
Western Sahara
