Short facts about the geography of Tunisia

Location:

Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Libya

Geographic coordinates:

34 00 N, 9 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total:  163,610 sq km land:  155,360 sq km water:  8,250 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Georgia

Land boundaries:

total:  1,424 km border countries:  Algeria 965 km, Libya 459 km

Coastline:

1,148 km

Maritime claims:

contiguous zone:  24 NM territorial sea:  12 NM

Climate:

temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in south

Terrain:

mountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid south merges into the Sahara

Elevation extremes:

lowest point:  Shatt al Gharsah -17 m highest point:  Jebel ech Chambi 1,544 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt

Land use:

arable land:  19% permanent crops:  13% permanent pastures:  20% forests and woodland:  4% other:  44% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land:

3,850 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

toxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective and presents human health risks; water pollution from raw sewage; limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

Environment - international agreements:

party to:  Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified:  Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:

strategic location in central Mediterranean; Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration

Source: World Factbook