Editing Bakassi (section)

==Geography and economy==
The peninsula lies between latitudes 4°25′ and 5°10′N and longitudes 8°20′ and 9°08′E . It consists of a number of low-lying, largely mangrove covered islands covering an area of around {{convert|665|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}. The population of Bakassi is the subject of some dispute, but is generally put at between 150,000 and 300,000 people.

Bakassi is situated at the extreme eastern end of the Gulf of Guinea, where the warm east-flowing [[Guinea Current]] (called Aya Efiat in [[Efik language|Efik]]) meets the cold north-flowing [[Benguela Current]] (called Aya Ubenekang in Efik). These two ocean currents interact, creating huge foamy breakers which constantly advance towards the shore. This builds up shoals rich in fish, shrimps, and a wide variety of other marine life forms, thus making the area a very fertile fishing ground, from which most of the population make their living.

The peninsula is commonly described as "oil-rich", though in fact no commercially viable deposits of oil have been discovered. However, the area has aroused considerable interest from oil companies in the light of the discovery of rich reserves of high grade [[crude oil]] in Nigeria. At least eight multinational oil companies have participated in the exploration of the peninsula and its offshore waters. In October 2012, [[China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation]] announced it had discovered new oil and gas resources in the Bakassi region.<ref>[http://www.menafn.com/menafn/46121fb4-d997-47a3-b228-ba8526460fc5/Addax-Petroleum-Discovers-New-Oil-Gas-Resources-Cameroon?src=main Addax Petroleum Discovers New Oil, Gas Resources in Cameroon] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130128155835/http://www.menafn.com/menafn/46121fb4-d997-47a3-b228-ba8526460fc5/Addax-Petroleum-Discovers-New-Oil-Gas-Resources-Cameroon?src=main |date=28 January 2013 }}, ''MenaFN.com'', 10 October 2012</ref>