The German colony of Togoland covered 90,500 sq. km, but when it was divided up after the First World War the British added their portion to the Gold Coast (now Ghana). Today, at 56,785 sq. km, Togo is one of the smallest counties in Africa. Even so, it is bigger than Belgium (30,510 sq. km), Switzerland (41,290 sq. km) or Wales (20,768 sq. km).

Togo is between Ghana to the west and Benin to the east, with Burkina Faso to the north and the Gulf of Guinea to the south. It is a long, narrow country. In the south Togo is just 55km from west to east. In the extreme north-west of the country a narrow finger of land stretches out to cross the Prime Meridian.

Most of Togo is relatively flat, but a chain of mountains extends from the Kpalimé area in the south-west to the north-eastern part of the country. The summit of the highest peak, Mt. Agou, is 986 metres above sea level.

Climate

Despite being well within the tropics, Togo’s climate is not too hot. In Lomé daytime temperatures rarely exceed 32^oc even in the hottest months (February-April), although temperatures of over 40^oc are not uncommon in the dry north. Most of the rainfall comes in the wet season, between March and November. The dry months bring the harmattan, a dusty wind from the Sahara Desert which dramatically lowers temperatures and reduces visibility.

Agriculture

Farming is very important for Togo's economy. Major food crops are cassava, yams, maize and millet, plus a large variety of other fruits and vegetables including pineapples, mangoes, papayas and bananas. Cash crops include coffee, cocoa, palm kernels, groundnuts, castor beans, and kapok. Coffee, cotton and cocoa make up most of Togo's agricultural exports, and more than one third of foreign earnings.

Minerals

Mining of phosphates, used in the making of chemical fertilizers, is an important part of the economy and Togo is one of the top-ten world producers. High quality marble is also mined.

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