Location:
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Israel

Geographic coordinates:
31 25 N, 34 20 E

Map references:
Middle East

Area:
total: 360 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 360 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 0 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 207

Area - comparative:
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
total: 72 km
[see also: Land boundaries - total country ranks ]
border countries (2): Egypt 13 km, Israel 59 km

Coastline:
40 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
see entry for Israel note: effective 3 January 2009, the Gaza maritime area is closed to all maritime traffic and is under blockade imposed by Israeli Navy until further notice

Climate:
temperate, mild winters, dry and warm to hot summers

Terrain:
flat to rolling, sand- and dune-covered coastal plain

Elevation:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Abu 'Awdah (Joz Abu 'Awdah) 105 m

Natural resources:
arable land, natural gas

Irrigated land:
240 sq km; note - includes the West Bank (2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Population distribution:
population concentrated in major cities, particularly Gaza City in the north

Natural hazards:
droughts

Environment - current issues:
soil degradation; desertification; water pollution from chemicals and pesticides; salination of fresh water; improper sewage treatment; water-borne disease; depletion and contamination of underground water resources

Geography - note:
strategic strip of land along Mideast-North African trade routes has experienced an incredibly turbulent history; the town of Gaza itself has been besieged countless times in its history; there are no Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip; the Gaza Strip settlements were evacuated in 2005