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Somalia Geography 1996

Location:

Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total area:

637,660 sq km

land area:

627,340 sq km

comparative area:

slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries:

total 2,366 km, Djibouti 58 km, Ethiopia 1,626 km, Kenya 682 km

Coastline:

3,025 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea:

200 nm

International disputes:

southern half of boundary with Ethiopia is a Provisional Administrative Line; territorial dispute with Ethiopia over the Ogaden

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

Natural resources:

uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt

Land use:

arable land:

permanent crops:

meadows and pastures:

46%

forest and woodland:

14%

other:

38%

Irrigated land:

1,600 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:

current issues:

famine; use of contaminated water contributes to human health problems; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

natural hazards:

recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains in summer

international agreements:

party to - Endangered Species, Law of the Sea; signed, but not ratified - Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban

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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