Togo Collège (Lower Secondary) – Geography

Introduction to Togo

Togo, officially the Togolese Republic, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east, and Burkina Faso to the north. Togo's southern border is the Gulf of Guinea, part of the Atlantic Ocean. The capital city is Lomé, located in the southwest of the country.

Geography of Togo

Togo is a long, narrow country, stretching approximately 370 miles north to south and averaging 56 miles wide. The country can be divided into six geographic regions:

• Coastal Region: Characterized by low-lying sandy beaches, tidal flats, and shallow lagoons, the largest of which is Lake Togo.
• Southern Plateaus: This region features savanna vegetation and is home to large trees, including the baobab.
• Central Region: This area is dominated by the Togo Mountains, which extend into Benin and Ghana.
• Northern Savanna: This region is primarily rolling savanna with fewer large trees compared to the southern plateaus.
• Southwestern Highlands: Covered with tropical forests, which are also found along river valleys.
• Coastal Zone: Dotted with mangrove and reed swamps.

Climate

Togo has a tropical climate, strongly influenced by the West African Monsoon. Rainfall patterns are determined by the movement of the tropical rain belt.

Resources

Togo is one of the world's leading producers of phosphate. Other important resources include limestone, used for cement production, and marble. There is also untapped potential for minerals like iron ore, gypsum, bauxite, manganese, zinc, rutile, and more.