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Geography of Israel

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Map of Israel
Map of Israel

This article describes the geography of Israel.

Location
Southwest Asia, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon
Geographic coordinates
31° 30′ N, 34° 45′ E
Map references
Southwest Asia
Area
  • Total: 20,770 km²
  • Land: 20,330 km²
  • Water: 440 km²
Land boundaries
Coastline
273 km
Maritime claims
  • Continental shelf: to depth of exploitation
  • Territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate
Temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas
Terrain
Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central mountains; Great Rift Valley
Elevation extremes
Natural resources
Copper, phosphates, bromide, potash, clay, sand, sulfur, asphalt, manganese, small amounts of natural gas and crude oil
Land use
  • Arable land: 17.02%
  • Permanent crops: 4.17%
  • Other: 78.81% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land
1,990 km² (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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
  • Signed, but not ratified: Kyoto Protocol, 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

Other geographic features

Category: