Kenya Geography Profile 2008

Location

Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania

Geographic coordinates

1 00 N, 38 00 E

Map references

Africa

Area

total: 582,650 sq km
land: 569,250 sq km
water: 13,400 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly more than twice the size of Nevada

Land boundaries

total: 3,477 km
border countries: Ethiopia 861 km, Somalia 682 km, Sudan 232 km, Tanzania 769 km, Uganda 933 km

Coastline

536 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate

varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior

Terrain

low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Kenya 5,199 m

Natural resources

limestone, soda ash, salt, gemstones, fluorspar, zinc, diatomite, gypsum, wildlife, hydropower

Land use

arable land: 8.01%
permanent crops: 0.97%
other: 91.02% (2005)

Irrigated land

1,030 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources

30.2 cu km (1990)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 1.58 cu km/yr (30%/6%/64%)
per capita: 46 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards

recurring drought; flooding during rainy seasons

Environment - current issues

water pollution from urban and industrial wastes; degradation of water quality from increased use of pesticides and fertilizers; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; poaching

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note

the Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa; glaciers are found on Mount Kenya, Africa's second highest peak; unique physiography supports abundant and varied wildlife of scientific and economic value