Gaza Strip Geography Profile 2002

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
land: 360 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries

total: 62 km
border countries: Egypt 11 km, Israel 51 km

Coastline

40 km

Maritime claims

Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation

Climate

temperate, mild winters, dry and warm to hot summers

Terrain

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

Elevation extremes

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

Natural resources

arable land, natural gas

Land use

arable land: 26.32%
permanent crops: 39.47%
other: 34.21% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land

120 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards

droughts

Environment - current issues

desertification; salination of fresh water; sewage treatment; water-borne disease; soil degradation; depletion and contamination of underground water resources

Group

All, NESA, Near East/South Asia

Geography - note

there are 25 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the Gaza Strip (February 2002 est.)