Short facts about the geography of Israel
| 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 |
| 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: |
timber, potash, copper ore, natural
gas, phosphate rock, magnesium bromide, clays, sand,
oil |
| 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; droughts |
| 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, 25 in the Gaza Strip, and 29 in East Jerusalem (August 2000
est.) | Source: World Factbook |
