Terrain: coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Asal -155 m highest point : Mousa Alli 2,028 m

Natural resources: geothermal areas

Land use: arable land : NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: 9% forests and woodland: 0% other: 91% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: earthquakes; droughts; occasional cyclonic disturbances from the Indian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floods

Environment - current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; desertification

Environment - international agreements: party to : Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Desertification

Geography - note: strategic location near world's busiest shipping lanes and close to Arabian oilfields; terminus of rail traffic into Ethiopia; mostly wasteland

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