Area comparison map:

Land boundaries:
total: 1,065 km
[see also: Land boundaries - total country ranks ]
border countries (6): Egypt 206 km, Gaza Strip 59 km, Jordan 336 km (20 km are within the Dead Sea), Lebanon 107 km, Syria 79 km, West Bank 278 km

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

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - territorial sea country ranks ]
continental shelf: to depth of exploitation
[see also: Maritime claims - continental shelf country ranks ]

Climate:
temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas
More Climate Details

Terrain:
Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central mountains; Jordan Rift Valley

Elevation:
mean elevation: 508 m note - does not include elevation data from the Golan Heights
[see also: Elevation - mean elevation country ranks ]
lowest point: Dead Sea -431 m
highest point: Mitspe Shlagim 2,224 m; note - this is the highest named point, the actual highest point is an unnamed dome slightly to the west of Mitspe Shlagim at 2,236 m; both points are on the northeastern border of Israel, along the southern end of the Anti-Lebanon mountain range

Natural resources:
timber, potash, copper ore, natural gas, phosphate rock, magnesium bromide, clays, sand

Land use:
agricultural land: 23.8% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
arable land: 13.7% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 3.8% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
permanent pasture: 6.3% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent pasture country ranks ]
forest: 7.1% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 69.1% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
2,250 sq km (2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Population distribution:
population concentrated in and around Tel-Aviv, as well as around the Sea of Galilee; the south remains sparsely populated with the exception of the shore of the Gulf of Aqaba

Natural hazards:
sandstorms may occur during spring and summer; droughts; periodic earthquakes

Environment - current issues:
limited arable land and restricted natural freshwater resources; desertification; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; groundwater pollution from industrial and domestic waste, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:
note 1: Lake Tiberias (Sea of Galilee) is an important freshwater source; the Dead Sea is the second saltiest body of water in the world (after Lake Assal in Djibouti)

note 2: the Malham Cave in Mount Sodom is the world's longest salt cave at 10 km (6 mi); its survey is not complete and its length will undoubtedly increase; Mount Sodom is actually a hill some 220 m (722 ft) high that is 80% salt (multiple salt layers covered by a veneer of rock)

note 3: in March 2019, there were 380 Israeli settlements,to include 213 settlements and 132 outposts in the West Bank, and 35 settlements in East Jerusalem; there are no Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip, as all were evacuated in 2005 (2019)