unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1997 est.)

@Cayman Islands:Military

Military branches: Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (RCIPF)

Military-note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

@Cayman Islands:Transnational Issues

Disputes-international: none

Illicit drugs: vulnerable to drug money-laundering and drug
transshipment

______________________________________________________________________

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

Introduction

Current issues: In 1996, the Central African Republic experienced
three mutinies by dissident elements of the armed forces, which
demanded back pay as well as political and military reforms.
Continuing violence in 1997 between the government and rebel military
groups over pay issues, living conditions, and lack of opposition
party representation in the government has destroyed many businesses
in the capital, reducing tax revenues and exacerbating the
government's problems in meeting expenses.

@Central African Republic:Geography

Location: Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo

Geographic coordinates: 7 00 N, 21 00 E

Map references: Africa

Area:
total: 622,980 sq km
land: 622,980 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area-comparative: slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries:
total: 5,203 km
border countries: Cameroon 797 km, Chad 1,197 km, Democratic Republic
of the Congo 1,577 km, Republic of the Congo 467 km, Sudan 1,165 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers

Terrain: vast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau; scattered hills in
northeast and southwest

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Oubangui River 335 m
highest point: Mount Gaou 1,420 m

Natural resources: diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil

Land use:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 5%
forests and woodland: 75%
other: 17% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern
areas; floods are common

Environment-current issues: tap water is not potable; poaching has
diminished its reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges;
desertification; deforestation

Environment-international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography