GEOGRAPHY
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: 83,600 sq km.
Land boundaries:
Total: 867 km border countries: Oman 410 km, Saudi Arabia 457 km.
Coastline:
1,318 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.)
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.
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