LocationNorthern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Tunisia Geographic coordinates25 00 N, 17 00 E Map referencesAfrica Areatotal: 1,759,540 sq km Area - comparativeslightly larger than Alaska Land boundariestotal: 4,348 km Coastline1,770 km Maritime claimsterritorial sea: 12 nm ClimateMediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior Terrainmostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions Elevation extremeslowest point: Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m Natural resourcespetroleum, natural gas, gypsum Land usearable land: 1.03% Irrigated land4,700 sq km (2003) Total renewable water resources0.6 cu km (1997) Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)total: 4.27 cu km/yr (14%/3%/83%) Natural hazardshot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to four days in spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms Environment - current issuesdesertification; limited natural fresh water resources; the Great Manmade River Project, the largest water development scheme in the world, is being built to bring water from large aquifers under the Sahara to coastal cities Environment - international agreementsparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands Geography - notemore than 90% of the country is desert or semidesert |
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Source: CIA World Factbook | |
