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| Location: |
Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia
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| Geographic coordinates: |
10 00 N, 49 00 E
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| Area: |
total:
637,657 sq km
land:
627,337 sq km
water:
10,320 sq km
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| Area - comparative: |
slightly smaller than Texas
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| Land boundaries: |
total:
2,366 km
border countries:
Djibouti 58 km, Ethiopia 1,626 km, Kenya 682 km
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| Maritime claims: |
territorial sea:
200 NM
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| Climate: |
principally desert; December to February - northeast monsoon, moderate temperatures in north and very hot in south; May to October - southwest monsoon, torrid in the north and hot in the south, irregular rainfall, hot and humid periods (tangambili) between monsoons
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| Terrain: |
mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north
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| Elevation extremes: |
lowest point:
Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Shimbiris 2,416 m
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| Natural resources: |
uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt
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| Land use: |
arable land:
2%
permanent crops:
0%
permanent pastures:
69%
forests and woodland:
26%
other:
3% (1993 est.)
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| Irrigated land: |
1,800 sq km (1993 est.)
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| Natural hazards: |
recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains in summer; floods during rainy season
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| Environment - current issues: |
famine; use of contaminated water contributes to human health problems; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
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| Environment - international agreements: |
party to:
Endangered Species, Law of the Sea
signed, but not ratified:
Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban
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| Geography - note: |
strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern approaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal
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