Cameroon

==Geography==
{{Main|Geography of Cameroon|Geology of Cameroon}}
[[File:Rhumsiki Peak.jpg|thumb|[[Volcanic plugs]] dot the landscape near [[Rhumsiki]], Far North Region.]]

At {{convert|475442|km2|sqmi}}, Cameroon is the world's 53rd-largest country.<ref name="Demographic Yearbook"/> The country is located in [[Central Africa]], on the [[Bight of Bonny]], part of the [[Gulf of Guinea]] and the Atlantic Ocean.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.international.ucla.edu/africa/countries/|access-date=12 April 2013|title=Country Profiles|publisher=UCLA African Studies Center|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130303170914/http://www.international.ucla.edu/africa/countries/|archive-date=3 March 2013}}</ref> Cameroon lies between latitudes [[1st parallel north|1°]] and [[13th parallel north|13°N]], and longitudes [[8th meridian east|8°]] and [[17th meridian east|17°E]]. Cameroon controls 12 nautical miles of the Atlantic Ocean.

Tourist literature describes Cameroon as "Africa in miniature" because it exhibits all major climates and vegetation of the continent: coast, desert, mountains, rainforest, and savanna.<ref>[[#DeLancey|DeLancey and DeLancey]] 16.</ref> The country's neighbours are [[Nigeria]] and the [[Atlantic Ocean]] to the west; [[Chad]] to the northeast; the [[Central African Republic]] to the east; and [[Equatorial Guinea]], [[Gabon]] and the [[Republic of the Congo]] to the south.<ref name="CIA"/>

Cameroon is divided into five major geographic zones distinguished by dominant physical, climatic, and vegetative features. The coastal plain extends {{convert|15|to|150|km|mi|0}} inland from the Gulf of Guinea<ref name=Fomensky/> and has an average elevation of {{convert|90|m|ft|0}}.<ref>[[#Neba|Neba]] 14.</ref> Exceedingly hot and humid with a short [[dry season]], this belt is densely forested and includes some of the [[Debundscha|wettest places]] on earth, part of the [[Cross-Sanaga-Bioko coastal forests]].<ref>[[#Neba|Neba]] 28.</ref><ref name=Extremes/>

The [[South Cameroon Plateau]] rises from the coastal plain to an average elevation of {{convert|650|m|ft|0}}.<ref name="Neba 16">[[#Neba|Neba]] 16.</ref> Equatorial rainforest dominates this region, although its alternation between [[wet season|wet]] and dry seasons makes it less humid than the coast. This area is part of the [[Atlantic Equatorial coastal forests]] [[ecoregion]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unido.org/fileadmin/user_media/Procurement/Ahmed/16001956/16001956ZPaa_TOR_final%20Report.pdf|publisher=UNIDO|title=ICAM of Kribi Campo|access-date=12 April 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130506165602/http://www.unido.org/fileadmin/user_media/Procurement/Ahmed/16001956/16001956ZPaa_TOR_final%20Report.pdf|archive-date=6 May 2013}}</ref>

[[File:Elephants around tree in Waza, Cameroon.jpg|thumb|Elephants in [[Waza National Park]]]]
An irregular chain of mountains, hills, and plateaus known as the [[Cameroon line|Cameroon range]] extends from [[Mount Cameroon]] on the coast—Cameroon's highest point at {{convert|4095|m|ft|0}}<ref name="Neba 17"/>—almost to [[Lake Chad]] at Cameroon's northern border at 13°05'N. This region has a mild climate, particularly on the [[Western High Plateau]], although rainfall is high. Its soils are among Cameroon's most fertile, especially around volcanic Mount Cameroon.<ref name="Neba 17">[[#Neba|Neba]] 17.</ref> Volcanism here has created [[volcanic crater lake|crater lake]]s. On 21 August 1986, one of these, [[Lake Nyos]], belched carbon dioxide and killed between 1,700 and 2,000 people.<ref>[[#DeLancey|DeLancey and DeLancey]] 161 report 1,700 killed; [[#Hudgens|Hudgens and Trillo]] 1054 say "at least 2,000"; West 10 says "more than 2,000".</ref> This area has been delineated by the [[World Wildlife Fund]] as the [[Cameroonian Highlands forests]] ecoregion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/ecoregions/cameroon_highlands_forests.cfm|access-date=12 April 2013|publisher=WWF|title=Cameroon Highlands Forests|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501144939/http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/ecoregions/cameroon_highlands_forests.cfm|archive-date=1 May 2013}}</ref>

The southern plateau rises northward to the grassy, rugged [[Adamawa Plateau]]. This feature stretches from the western mountain area and forms a barrier between the country's north and south. Its average elevation is {{convert|1100|m|ft|0}},<ref name="Neba 16"/> and its average temperature ranges from {{convert|22|C|F|1}} to {{convert|25|C|F}} with high rainfall between April and October peaking in July and August.<ref name=Gwanfogbe/><ref>[[#Neba|Neba]] 29.</ref> The [[East Sudanian savanna|northern lowland region]] extends from the edge of the Adamawa to Lake Chad with an average elevation of {{convert|300|to|350|m|ft|0}}.<ref name="Neba 17"/> Its characteristic vegetation is savanna scrub and grass. This is an arid region with sparse rainfall and high median temperatures.<ref name=Green/>

Cameroon has four patterns of drainage. In the south, the principal rivers are the [[Ntem River|Ntem]], [[Nyong River|Nyong]], [[Sanaga River|Sanaga]], and Wouri. These flow southwestward or westward directly into the Gulf of Guinea. The [[Dja River|Dja]] and [[Kadéï River|Kadéï]] drain southeastward into the [[Congo River]]. In northern Cameroon, the [[Benue River|Bénoué River]] runs north and west and empties into the [[Niger River|Niger]]. The [[Logon River|Logone]] flows northward into Lake Chad, which Cameroon shares with three neighbouring countries.<ref>{{cite web|title=Country Files: Cameroon|url=http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/T0360E/T0360E04.htm|publisher=UN Food and Agriculture Organization|access-date=3 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130611075925/http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/t0360e/T0360E04.htm|archive-date=11 June 2013}}</ref>

===Wildlife===
{{Main|Wildlife of Cameroon}}