| Location | Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia |
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| Geographic coordinates | 10 00 N, 49 00 E |
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| Zone | Africa |
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| Area | total: 637,657 sq km
land: 627,337 sq km
water: 10,320 sq km |
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| Land boundaries | total: 2,340 km
border countries: Djibouti 58 km, Ethiopia 1,600 km, Kenya 682 km |
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| Coastline | 3,025 km |
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| Maritime claims | territorial sea: 200 nm |
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| Climate | principally desert; northeast monsoon (December to February), moderate temperatures in north and hot in south; southwest monsoon (May to October), torrid in the north and hot in the south, irregular rainfall, hot and humid periods (tangambili) between monsoons |
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| Terrain | mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north |
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| Elevation extremes | lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Shimbiris 2,416 m |
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| Natural resources | uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt, natural gas, likely oil reserves |
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| Irrigated land | 3,025 km |
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| Natural hazards | recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains in summer; floods during rainy season |
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Environment -
current issues | famine; use of contaminated water contributes to human health problems; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification |
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Environment -
international agreements | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection |
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| Geography - note | strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern approaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal |
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