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Location: Middle East, bordering
the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon
Geographic coordinates:
31 30 N, 34 45 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 20,770 sq km
land: 20,330 sq km
water: 440 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
total: 1,006 km
border countries: Egypt 255 km, Gaza Strip 51 km,
Jordan 238 km, Lebanon 79 km, Syria 76 km, West Bank 307 km
Coastline: 273
km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: to depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate:
temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas
Terrain:
Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central mountains; Jordan
Rift Valley
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
highest point: Har Meron 1,208 m
Natural resources:
copper, phosphates, bromide, potash, clay, sand, sulfur, asphalt,
manganese, small amounts of natural gas and crude oil
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Land use:
arable land: 17%
permanent crops: 4%
permanent pastures: 7%
forests and woodland: 6%
other: 66% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land:
1,800 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards:
sandstorms may occur during spring and summer
Environment - current issues:
limited arable land and natural fresh water resources pose serious
constraints; 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, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine
Life Conservation
Geography - note:
there are 231 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the West
Bank, 42 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 24 in the Gaza Strip, and
29 in East Jerusalem (August 1999 est)
Israeli Flags
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