Geography of São Tomé and Príncipe Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description

This article describes the geography of São Tomé and Príncipe.

The islands of São Tomé and Príncipe, situated in the equatorial Atlantic about 300 and 250 kilometers (200 and 150 miles), respectively, off the northerwest coast of Gabon, constitute one of Africa's smallest countries. Both are part of an extinct volcanic mountain range, which also includes the island of Bioko in Equatorial Guinea to the north and Mount Cameroon on the African west coast. São Tomé is 48 kilometers (30 mi.) long and 32 kilometers (20 mi.) wide and the more mountainous of the two islands. Its peaks reach 2,024 meters (6,640 ft.). Principe is about 16 kilometers (10 mi.) long and 6 kilometers (4 mi.) wide. Both islands are crossed by swift streams radiating down the mountains through lush forest and cropland to the sea.

At sea level, the climate is tropical--hot and humid with average yearly temperatures of about 27 degrees C (80 degrees F) and little daily variation. At the interior's higher altitudes, the average yearly temperature is 20 degrees C (68 degrees F), and nights are generally cool. Annual rainfall varies from 500 centimeters (200 in.) on the southwestern slopes to 100 centimeters (40 in.) in the northern lowlands. The rainy season runs from October to May.

; Location:

Western Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea, straddling the Equator, west of Gabon

; Geographic coordinates:

1° 00′ N, 7° 00′ E

; Map references:

Africa

; Area:

• Total: 1,001 km²

Land: 1,001 km²

Water: 0 km²

; Area--comparative:

More than five times the size of Washington, DC

; Land boundaries:

0 km

; Coastline:

209 km

; Maritime claims:

• Measured from claimed archipelagic baselines

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Territorial sea: 12 nm

; Climate:

Tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May)

; Terrain:

Volcanic, mountainous

; Elevation extremes:

• Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Highest point: Pico de São Tomé 2,024 m

; Natural resources:

Fish, hydropower

; Land use:

• Arable land: 2%

Permanent crops: 36%

Permanent pastures: 1%

Forests and woodland: 0%

Other: 61% (1993 est.)

; Irrigated land:

100 km² (1993 est.)

; Natural hazards:

NA

; Environment--current issues:

Deforestation; soil erosion and exhaustion

; Environment--international agreements:

• Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ship Pollution

Signed, but not ratified: None of the selected agreements

See also: São Tomé and Príncipe

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