Physical Geography of Somalia
GEOGRAPHY		HISTORY
Cultural Regions	Economic Data	1. Origins	2. Colonial Period
Physical Geography	Maps	3. Independence	4. Somalia Today

Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia

Geographic Coordinates: 10 00 N, 49 00 E

Map References: Africa

Area:
total: 637,657 square kilometers
land: 627,337 square kilometers
water: 10,320 square kilometers

Land Boundaries: total: 2,366 kilometers

Bordering Countries: Djibouti 58 kilometers, Ethiopia 1,626 kilometers, Kenya 682 kilometers

Coastline: 3,025 kilometers

Maritime Claims: territorial sea: 200 nm

Climate: mostly desert; December to February - northeast monsoon, moderate temperatures in the north and very hot in the south; May to October - southwest monsoon, torrid in the north and warm in the south, irregular rainfall, hot and humid periods (tangambili) between the monsoons

Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plateau rising into hills in the north

Extreme Elevations:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Shimbiris 2,450 m

Natural Resources: uranium and largely untapped reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt

Land Use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 69%
forests and wooded areas: 26%
other: 3% (1993 est.)

Irrigated Land: 1,800 square kilometers (1993 est.)

Natural Hazards: recurring droughts; sandstorms over the eastern plains in summer; floods during the rainy season

Current Environmental Issues: famine; use of contaminated water contributes to human health problems; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

International Environmental Agreements:
party to: Endangered Species, Law of the Sea
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban

Geography - Note: strategic location on the Horn of Africa along the southern approaches to Bab el Mandeb and the maritime route through the Red Sea and Suez Canal