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:
Land boundaries:
Coastline:
273 km
Maritime claims:
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:
Natural resources:
copper, phosphates[?], bromide[?], potash, clay, sand, sulfur, asphalt, manganese, small amounts of natural gas and crude oil
Land use:
Irrigated land:
1,800 kmē (1993 est.)
Natural hazards:
sandstorms may occur during spring and summer
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:
Geography - note:
there are 231 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the West Bank, 42 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 24 in the Gaza Strip, and 29 in East Jerusalem[?] (August 1999 est.)
total:
20,770 kmē
land:
20,330 sq km
water:
440 sq km
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
continental shelf:
to depth of exploitation
territorial sea:
12 nm
lowest point:
Dead Sea -408 m
highest point:
Har Meron[?] 1,208 m
arable land:
17%
permanent crops:
4%
permanent pastures:
7%
forests and woodland:
6%
other:
66% (1993 est.)
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