Gaza Strip: Geography#
Location | Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Israel |
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Geographic Coordinates | 31 25 N, 34 20 E 31.416666,34.333332 |
Land boundaries | total: 72 km border countries: Egypt 13 km, Israel 59 km |
Coastline | 40 km |
Elevation Extremes | lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Abu 'Awdah (Joz Abu 'Awdah) 105 m |
Highest Mountains | |
Terrain | flat to rolling, sand- and dune-covered coastal plain |
Natural Hazards | droughts |
Natural Resource | arable land, natural gas |
Land Use | arable land: 7.39% permanent crops: 10.96% other: 81.64% (2011) |
Climate | temperate, mild winters, dry and warm to hot summers |
Irrigated Land | 240 sq km; note - includes West Bank (2003) |
Renewable Water Resources | NA |
Environment_CurrentIssues | desertification; salination of fresh water; sewage treatment; water-borne disease; soil degradation; depletion and contamination of underground water resources |
Environment - international agreements | NA |
Large Cities | |
Geography-note | strategic strip of land along Mideast-North African trade routes has experienced an incredibly turbulent history; the town of Gaza itself has been besieged countless times in its history |