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:
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Kansas
Land boundaries:
Coastline:
2,092 km
Maritime claims:
Climate:
dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south
Terrain:
vast central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south
Elevation extremes:
Natural resources:
petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas
Land use:
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:
Geography - note:
strategic location on Musandam Peninsula[?] adjacent to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil
total:
212,460 sq km
land:
212,460 sq km
water:
0 sq km
total:
1,374 km
border countries:
Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km, Yemen 288 km
contiguous zone:
24 nm
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
Island territory: Khuriya Muriya Islands
lowest point:
Arabian Sea 0 m
highest point:
Jabal Shams[?] 2,980 m
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
permanent pastures:
5%
forests and woodland:
0%
other:
95% (1993 est.)
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