Israel's Geography | Israel Geography

Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon

Geographic coordinates: 31 30 N, 34 45 E

Map references: Middle East

Area: Total: 20,770 sq km land: 20,330 sq km water: 440 sq km

Area - comparative: Slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries: Total: 1,017 km border countries: Egypt 266 km, Gaza Strip 51 km, Jordan 238 km, Lebanon 79 km, Syria 76 km, West Bank 307 km

Coastline: 273 km

Maritime claims: Territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: to depth of exploitation

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: Lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m highest point: Har Meron 1,208 m

Natural resources: Timber, potash, copper ore, natural gas, phosphate rock, magnesium bromide, clays, sand

Land use: Arable land: 16.39% permanent crops: 4.17% other: 79.44% (2001)

Irrigated land: 1,990 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards: Sandstorms may occur during spring and summer; droughts; periodic earthquakes

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: Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note: There are 242 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the West Bank, 42 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 25 in the Gaza Strip, and 29 in East Jerusalem (February 2002 est.); Sea of Galilee is an important freshwater source

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