Area comparison map:

slightly larger than Delaware

Land boundaries:
total: 714 km
[see also: Land boundaries - total country ranks ]
border countries (4): Albania 112 km, Macedonia 160 km, Montenegro 76 km, Serbia 366 km

Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)

Climate:
influenced by continental air masses resulting in relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall and hot, dry summers and autumns; Mediterranean and alpine influences create regional variation; maximum rainfall between October and December

Terrain:
flat fluvial basin at an elevation of 400-700 m above sea level surrounded by several high mountain ranges with elevations of 2,000 to 2,500 m

Elevation:
mean elevation: 450 m
[see also: Elevation - mean elevation country ranks ]
lowest point: Drini i Bardhe/Beli Drim (located on the border with Albania) 297 m
highest point: Gjeravica/Deravica 2,656 m

Natural resources:
nickel, lead, zinc, magnesium, lignite, kaolin, chrome, bauxite

Land use:
agricultural land: 52.8% (2001 est.)
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
arable land: 27.4% (2001 est.)
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 1.9% (2001 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
permanent pasture: 23.5% (2001 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent pasture country ranks ]
forest: 41.7% (2001 est.)
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 5.5% (2001 est.)
[see also: Land use country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
NA
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Population distribution:
population clusters exist throughout the country, the largest being in the east in and around the capital of Pristina

Environment - current issues:
air pollution (pollution from power plants and nearby lignite mines take a toll on people's health); water scarcity and pollution; land degradation

Geography - note:
the 41-km long Nerodimka River divides into two branches each of which flows into a different sea: the northern branch flows into the Sitnica River, which via the Ibar, Morava, and Danube Rivers ultimately flows into the Black Sea; the southern branch flows via the Lepenac and Vardar Rivers into the Aegean Sea