Location
Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia

Geographic coordinates
31 00 N, 36 00 E

Area
total: 92,300 sq km
land: 91,971 sq km
water: 329 sq km


Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Indiana

Land boundaries
total: 1,635 km
border countries: Iraq 181 km, Israel 238 km, Saudi Arabia 744 km, Syria 375 km, West Bank 97 km

Coastline
26 km

Maritime claims
territorial sea: 3 NM

Climate
mostly arid desert; rainy season in west (November to April)

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Terrain
mostly desert plateau in east, highland area in west; Great Rift Valley separates East and West Banks of the Jordan River

Elevation extremes
lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
highest point: Jabal Ram 1,734 m

Natural resources
phosphates, potash, shale oil

Land use
arable land: 3.32%
permanent crops: 1.18%
other: 95.5% (2005)

Irrigated land
750 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources
0.9 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)
total: 1.01 cu km/yr (21%/4%/75%)
per capita: 177 cu m/yr (2000)

Environment - current issues
limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

Geography- note
strategic location at the head of the Gulf of Aqaba and as the Arab country that shares the longest border with Israel and the occupied West Bank

Source: The World Factbook 2009

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