| Location: |
Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia
|
| Geographic coordinates: |
24 00 N, 54 00 E
|
| Map references: |
Middle East
|
| Area: |
total:
82,880 sq km
land:
82,880 sq km
water:
0 sq km
|
| Area - comparative: |
slightly smaller than Maine
|
| Land boundaries: |
total:
867 km
border countries:
Oman 410 km, Saudi Arabia 457 km
|
| Maritime claims: |
contiguous zone:
24 NM
continental shelf:
200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone:
200 NM
territorial sea:
12 NM
|
| Climate: |
desert; cooler in eastern mountains
|
| Terrain: |
flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert wasteland; mountains in east
|
| Elevation extremes: |
lowest point:
Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point:
Jabal Yibir 1,527 m
|
| Natural resources: |
petroleum, natural gas
|
| Land use: |
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
permanent pastures:
2%
forests and woodland:
0%
other:
98% (1993 est.)
|
| Irrigated land: |
50 sq km (1993 est.)
|
| Natural hazards: |
frequent sand and dust storms
|
| Environment - current issues: |
lack of natural freshwater resources being overcome by desalination plants; desertification; beach pollution from oil spills
|
| Environment - international agreements: |
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified:
Law of the Sea
|
| Geography - note: |
strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil
|
|
