Location: | Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia |
| Geographic coordinates: | 10 00 N, 49 00 E |
| Map references: | Africa |
| Area: | total: 637,657 sq km
water: 10,320 sq km
land: 627,337 sq km |
| Area - comparative: | slightly smaller than Texas |
| Land boundaries: | total: 2,340 km
border countries: Djibouti 58 km, Ethiopia 1,600 km, Kenya 682 km |
| Coastline: | 3,025 km |
| Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 200 nm |
| 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 |
| Terrain: | mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north |
| Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Shimbiris 2,416 m |
| Natural resources: | uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt, natural gas, likely oil reserves |
| Land use: | arable land: 1.67%
other: 98.29% (2001)
permanent crops: 0.04% |
| Irrigated land: | 2,000 sq km (1998 est.) |
| Natural hazards: | recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains in summer; floods during rainy season |
| Environment - current issues: | famine; use of contaminated water contributes to human health problems; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification |
| Environment - international agreements: | party to: Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection |
| Geography - note: | strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern approaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal
Source: CIA World Factbook
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