Short facts about the geography of Kenya
| Location: |
Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian
Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania |
| Geographic
coordinates: |
1 00 N, 38 00
E |
| Area: |
total: 582,650 sq km
land: 569,250 sq km
water:
13,400 sq km |
| Area -
comparative: |
slightly more than twice the size of
Nevada |
| Land
boundaries: |
total: 3,446 km
border countries: Ethiopia 830 km, Somalia 682
km, Sudan 232 km, Tanzania 769 km, Uganda 933
km |
| Maritime
claims: |
continental shelf:
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive
economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12
NM |
| Climate: |
varies from tropical along coast to
arid in interior |
| Terrain: |
low plains rise to central highlands
bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in
west |
| Elevation
extremes: |
lowest point:
Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Kenya 5,199
m |
| Natural
resources: |
gold, limestone, soda ash, salt
barites, rubies, fluorspar, garnets, wildlife,
hydropower |
| Land
use: |
arable land: 7%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures:
37%
forests and woodland: 30%
other: 25% (1993
est.) |
| Irrigated
land: |
660 sq km (1993
est.) |
| Natural
hazards: |
recurring drought in northern and
eastern regions; flooding during rainy seasons |
| Environment
- current issues: |
water pollution from urban and
industrial wastes; degradation of water quality from increased use of pesticides
and fertilizers; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; deforestation;
soil erosion; desertification; poaching |
| Environment
- international agreements: |
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands,
Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements |
| Geography -
note: |
the Kenyan Highlands comprise one of
the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa; glaciers on Mt.
Kenya; unique physiography supports abundant and varied wildlife of scientific
and economic value | Source: World Factbook |
