Climate: tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation
Terrain: high plateau with central mountain range divided by Great
Rift Valley
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Denakil -125 m highest point: Ras Dashen Terara 4,620 m
Natural resources: small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash
Land use: arable land: 12% permanent crops : 1% permanent pastures: 40% forests and woodland: 25% other: 22% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,900 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughts
Environment - current issues: deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Environment - international agreements: party to : Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
Geography - note: landlocked - entire coastline along the Red Sea was lost with the de jure independence of Eritrea on 27 April 1993