Physical Description: Chad is mostly made up of a dry, dusty, shallow basin. Lake Chad, the fourth largest lake in Africa., is situated to the west along the border with Cameroon. The lake is surrounded by mountains, including the volcanic Tibesti Massif, and high plateaus. The country has two rivers -- Chari and Logone -- with tributaries, all of which flow into Lake Chad. Chad is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, Central African Republic and Cameroon to the south, and Cameroon, Nigeria and Niger to the west.
Climate: Tropical in south, desert in north Irrigated Land: 54 sq miles (1993 est.) Land Use: Arable Land: 3% Permanent Crops: 0% Permanent Pastures: 36% Forests and Woodland: 26% Other: 35% (1993 est.) Natural Resources: Petroleum (explored, but unexploited), uranium, natron, kaolin, Lake Chad fish Natural Hazards: Hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds in north; periodic droughts; locust plagues Eco-alerts: Chad is plagued by the standard worries of Saharan countries: lack of potable water and desertification. (Statistics Sources: CIA World Factbook 2000, Encyclopedia Britannica, UNAIDS)