Short facts about the geography of Gaza Strip

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:  24% permanent crops:  39% permanent pastures:  0% forests and woodland:  11% other:  26% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land:

120 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards:

droughts

Environment - current issues:

desertification; salination of fresh water; sewage treatment; water-borne disease; soil degradation

Geography - note:

there are 25 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the Gaza Strip (August 2000 est.)

Source: World Factbook