Gaza Strip Geography:
Location:
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Israel
Geographic coordinates:
31 25 N, 34 20 E
Map references:
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: 28.95%
permanent crops: 21.05%
other: 50%
(2001)
Irrigated land:
120 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
Droughts
Environment - current issues:
Desertification; salination of fresh water; sewage treatment; water-borne disease; soil degradation; depletion and contamination of underground water resources
Environment - international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography - Note:
There are 25 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the Gaza Strip (February 2002 est.) |
