LocationMiddle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Red Sea, between Oman and Saudi Arabia Geographic coordinates15 00 N, 48 00 E Map referencesMiddle East Areatotal: 527,970 sq km Area - comparativeslightly larger than twice the size of Wyoming Land boundariestotal: 1,746 km Coastline1,906 km Maritime claimsterritorial sea: 12 nm Climatemostly desert; hot and humid along west coast; temperate in western mountains affected by seasonal monsoon; extraordinarily hot, dry, harsh desert in east Terrainnarrow coastal plain backed by flat-topped hills and rugged mountains; dissected upland desert plains in center slope into the desert interior of the Arabian Peninsula Elevation extremeslowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m Natural resourcespetroleum, fish, rock salt, marble; small deposits of coal, gold, lead, nickel, and copper; fertile soil in west Land usearable land: 2.91% Irrigated land5,500 sq km (2003) Total renewable water resources4.1 cu km (1997) Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)total: 6.63 cu km/yr (4%/1%/95%) Natural hazardssandstorms and dust storms in summer Environment - current issueslimited natural fresh water resources; inadequate supplies of potable water; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification Environment - international agreementsparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection Geography - notestrategic location on Bab el Mandeb, the strait linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, one of world's most active shipping lanes |
|
|
Source: CIA World Factbook | |