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Israel vs. Gaza Strip

Geography

IsraelGaza Strip
LocationMiddle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and LebanonMiddle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Israel
Geographic coordinates31 30 N, 34 45 E31 25 N, 34 20 E
Map referencesMiddle EastMiddle East
Areatotal: 21,937 sq km

land: 21,497 sq km

water: 440 sq km
total: 360 sq km

land: 360 sq km

water: 0 sq km
Area - comparativeslightly larger than New Jerseyslightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundariestotal: 1,068 km

border countries (6): Egypt 208 km, Gaza Strip 59 km, Jordan 327 km (20 km are within the Dead Sea), Lebanon 81 km, Syria 83 km, West Bank 330 km
total: 72 km

border countries (2): Egypt 13 km, Israel 59 km
Coastline273 km40 km
Maritime claimsterritorial sea: 12 nm

continental shelf: to depth of exploitation
see entry for Israel

note: effective 3 January 2009, the Gaza maritime area is closed to all maritime traffic and is under blockade imposed by Israeli Navy until further notice

Climatetemperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areastemperate, mild winters, dry and warm to hot summers
TerrainNegev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central mountains; Jordan Rift Valleyflat to rolling, sand- and dune-covered coastal plain
Elevation extremeshighest point: Mitspe Shlagim 2,224 m; note - this is the highest named point, the actual highest point is an unnamed dome slightly to the west of Mitspe Shlagim at 2,236 m; both points are on the northeastern border of Israel, along the southern end of the Anti-Lebanon mountain range

lowest point: Dead Sea -431 m

mean elevation: 508 m note - does not include elevation data from the Golan Heights
highest point: Abu 'Awdah (Joz Abu 'Awdah) 105 m

lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
Natural resourcestimber, potash, copper ore, natural gas, phosphate rock, magnesium bromide, clays, sandarable land, natural gas
Irrigated land2,250 sq km (2012)240 sq km; note - includes the West Bank (2012)
Natural hazardssandstorms may occur during spring and summer; droughts; periodic earthquakesdroughts
Environment - current issueslimited arable land and restricted natural freshwater resources; desertification; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; groundwater pollution from industrial and domestic waste, chemical fertilizers, and pesticidessoil degradation; desertification; water pollution from chemicals and pesticides; salination of fresh water; improper sewage treatment; water-borne disease; depletion and contamination of underground water resources
Geography - notenote 1: Lake Tiberias (Sea of Galilee) is an important freshwater source; the Dead Sea is the second saltiest body of water in the world (after Lake Assal in Djibouti)

note 2: the Malham Cave in Mount Sodom is the world's longest salt cave at 10 km (6 mi); its survey is not complete and its length will undoubtedly increase; Mount Sodom is actually a hill some 220 m (722 ft) high that is 80% salt (multiple salt layers covered by a veneer of rock)

note 3: in March 2019, there were 380 Israeli settlements,to include 213 settlements and 132 outposts in the West Bank, and 35 settlements in East Jerusalem; there are no Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip, as all were evacuated in 2005 (2019)
strategic strip of land along Mideast-North African trade routes has experienced an incredibly turbulent history; the town of Gaza itself has been besieged countless times in its history; there are no Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip; the Gaza Strip settlements were evacuated in 2005
Total renewable water resources1.78 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)837 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

note: data represent combined total from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
Population distributionpopulation concentrated in and around Tel-Aviv, as well as around the Sea of Galilee; the south remains sparsely populated with the exception of the shore of the Gulf of Aqabapopulation concentrated in major cities, particularly Gaza City in the north

Source: CIA Factbook