|
Location: |
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia
|
|
Geographic coordinates: |
29 30 N, 45 45 E
|
|
Map references: |
Middle East
|
|
Area: |
total: 17,820 sq km
land: 17,820 sq km
water: 0 sq km
|
|
Area - comparative: |
slightly smaller than New Jersey
|
|
Land boundaries: |
total: 462 km
border countries: Iraq 240 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km
|
|
Coastline: |
499 km
|
|
Maritime claims: |
territorial sea: 12 nm
|
|
Climate: |
dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters
|
|
Terrain: |
flat to slightly undulating desert plain
|
|
Elevation extremes: |
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 306 m
|
|
Natural resources: |
petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas
|
|
Land use: |
arable land: 0.73%
permanent crops: 0.11%
other: 99.16% (2001)
|
|
Irrigated land: |
60 sq km (1998 est.)
|
|
Natural hazards: |
sudden cloudbursts are common from October to April and bring heavy rain, which can damage roads and houses; sandstorms and dust storms occur throughout the year, but are most common between March and August
|
|
Environment - current issues: |
limited natural fresh water resources; some of world's largest and most sophisticated desalination facilities provide much of the water; air and water pollution; desertification
|
|
Environment - international agreements: |
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping
|
|
Geography - note: |
strategic location at head of Persian Gulf
|
