Geography
Location:
Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE
Geographic coordinates:
21 00 N, 57 00 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total area:
212,460 sq km
land area:
212,460 sq km
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Kansas
Land boundaries:
total:
1,374 km
border countries:
Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km, Yemen 288 km
Coastline:
2,092 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
no defined boundary with most of UAE, but Administrative Line in far north
Climate:
dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south
Terrain:
vast central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south
lowest point:
Arabian Sea 0 m
highest point:
Jabal ash Sham 2,980 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas
Land use:
arable land:
2%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
5%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
93%
Irrigated land:
410 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; very limited natural fresh water resources
natural hazards:
summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in interior; periodic droughts
international agreements:
party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Hazardous Wastes
Geographic note:
strategic location with small foothold on Musandam Peninsula controlling Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil
