LocationMiddle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq and Pakistan Geographic coordinates32 00 N, 53 00 E Map referencesMiddle East Areatotal: 1.648 million sq km Area - comparativeslightly larger than Alaska Land boundariestotal: 5,440 km Coastline2,440 km; note - Iran also borders the Caspian Sea (740 km) Maritime claimscontiguous zone: 24 NM Climatemostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast Terrainrugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts, mountains; small, discontinuous plains along both coasts Elevation extremeslowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m Natural resourcespetroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc, sulfur Land usearable land: 10% Irrigated land94,000 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazardsperiodic droughts, floods; dust storms, sandstorms; earthquakes along western border and in the northeast Environment - current issuesair pollution, especially in urban areas, from vehicle emissions, refinery operations, and industrial effluents; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; oil pollution in the Persian Gulf; inadequate supplies of potable water Environment - international agreementsparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands |
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Source: CIA World Factbook | |