Coastline:
853 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 18 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
tropical in south; arid desert in north; rainy season varies by
region (April to November)
Terrain:
generally flat, featureless plain; mountains in far south,
northeast and west; desert dominates the north
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Red Sea 0 m
highest point: Kinyeti 3,187 m
Natural resources:
petroleum; small reserves of iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc,
tungsten, mica, silver, gold, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 6.83% permanent crops: 0.18% other: 92.99% (2001)
Irrigated land:
19,500 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
dust storms and periodic persistent droughts
Environment - current issues:
inadequate supplies of potable water; wildlife populations
threatened by excessive hunting; soil erosion; desertification;
periodic drought