Short facts about the geography of Oman
| Location: |
Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea,
Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and
UAE |
| Geographic
coordinates: |
21 00 N, 57 00
E |
| Map
references: |
Middle
East |
| Area: |
total: 212,460 sq km
land: 212,460 sq km
water: 0
sq km |
| Area -
comparative: |
slightly smaller than
Kansas |
| Land
boundaries: |
total: 1,374 km
border countries: Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410
km, Yemen 288 km |
| Maritime
claims: |
contiguous zone:
24 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200
NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
| Climate: |
dry desert; hot, humid along coast;
hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far
south |
| Terrain: |
central desert plain, rugged mountains
in north and south |
| Elevation
extremes: |
lowest point:
Arabian Sea 0 m
highest point: Jabal Shams 2,980
m |
| Natural
resources: |
petroleum, copper, asbestos, some
marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural
gas |
| Land
use: |
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures:
5%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 95% (1993
est.) |
| Irrigated
land: |
580 sq km (1993
est.) |
| Natural
hazards: |
summer winds often raise large
sandstorms and dust storms in interior; periodic
droughts |
| Environment
- current issues: |
rising soil salinity; beach pollution
from oil spills; very limited natural fresh water
resources |
| Environment
- international agreements: |
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of
the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements |
| Geography -
note: |
strategic location on Musandam
Peninsula adjacent to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude
oil | Source: World Factbook |
