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: 637,660 sq km
land: 627,340 sq km
water: 10,320 sq km

Area - comparative slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries
total: 2,366 km
border countries: Djibouti 58 km, Ethiopia 1,626 km, Kenya 682 km

Coastline 3,025 km

Maritime claims
territorial sea: 200 nm

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

Terrain mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north

Elevation extremes
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Shimbiris 2,450 m

Natural resources uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt

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

Irrigated land 1,800 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains in summer

Environment - current issues famine; use of contaminated water contributes to human health problems; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

Environment - international agreements
party to: Endangered Species, Law of the Sea
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban

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

NOTE: The information regarding Somalia on this page is re-published from the 1998 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Somalia Geography 1998 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Somalia Geography 1998 should be addressed to the CIA.