Geography of Tunisia
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Libya
Geographic coordinates: 34 00 N, 9 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total:
163,610 kmē
land:
155,360 kmē
water:
8,250 kmē
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Georgia (U.S. state)
Land boundaries:
total:
1,424 km
border countries:
Algeria 965 km, Libya 459 km
Coastline: 1,148 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nautical miles
territorial sea:
12 nautical miles
Climate: temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in south
Terrain: mountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid south merges into the Sahara
Elevation extremes:
lowest point:
Shatt al Gharsah -17 m
highest point:
Jabal ash Shanabi 1,544 m
Natural resources: petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt, arable land
Land use:
arable land:
19%
permanent crops:
13%
permanent pastures:
20%
forests and woodland:
4%
other:
44% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 3,850 kmē (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: toxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective and presents human health risks; water pollution from raw sewage; limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Environment - international agreements:
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:
Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note: strategic location in central Mediterranean
- See also : Tunisia
