Geography

Togo is a small Sub-Saharan nation comprising a long vertical strip of land in West Africa. The country is bordered by three countries: Benin to the east, with 644 km of border; Burkina Faso to the north, with 126 km of border; and Ghana to the east, with 877 km of border. To the south Togo has 56 km (35 mi) of coastline along the Bight of Benin of the Gulf of Guinea off the North Atlantic Ocean. The country stretches 579 kilometres (360 miles) north from the Gulf and is only 160 km (100 mi) wide at its broadest point. In total, Togo has an area 56,785 sq km, of which 54,385 sq km is land and 2,400 sq km is water, making it the 125th largest country, and slightly less than half the size of England.

Geographic Regions

The country consists primarily of two savanna plains regions separated by a southwest-northwest range of hills (the Chaine du Togo), and is commonly divided into six geographic regions:

1. South

In the south lie low-lying sandy beaches. The coastal region is narrow and followed by tidal flats and shallow lagoons. There are also a number of lakes, the largest of which is Lake Togo.

2. Ouatchi Plateau

Further north lies the Ouatchi Plateau or 'Terre de Barre'. This plateau is about 30 kilometres wide and located at an altitude of 60 to 90 metres above sea level. It reddish, leached soil is rich in iron.

3. Tableland

Northeast of the Ouatchi Plateau lies a tableland, which is drained by the Mono River and tributaries, including Ogou River. At its highest, this region is about 500 metres above sea level.

4. Togo Mountains

To the west and the southwest of the tableland lie the Togo Mountains. These mountains run across the central region of Togo, ranging from the southwest to the northeast. The mountain range reaches into Benin where it is known as the Atakora Mountains and Ghana where it is known as the Akwapim Hills. The highest mountain of Togo is the Mount Agou with a height of 990 metres.

5. North of the Togo Mountains

North of the Togo Mountains lies a sandstone plateau through which the Oti River flows. The vegetation is characterised by gently rolling savannah. The River Oti, which drains the plateau, is one of the main tributaries of the River Volta.

6. Far Northwest

In the far northwest of Togo lies a higher region which is characterised by its rocks: granite and gneiss. The cliffs of Dapaong (Dapango) located in this part of Togo.