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Tunisia - Geography (Facts)

Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Libya Geographic coordinates: 34 00 N, 9 00 E Map references: Africa Area: total: 163,610 sq km land: 155,360 sq km water: 8,250 sq km Area - comparative: slightly larger than Georgia Land boundaries: total: 1,424 km border countries: Algeria 965 km, Libya 459 km Coastline: 1,148 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm Climate: temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in south Terrain: mountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid south merges into the Sahara Elevation extremes: lowest point: Shatt al Gharsah -17 m highest point: Jebel ech Chambi 1,544 m Natural resources: petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt Land use: arable land: 17.05% permanent crops: 13.08% other: 69.87% (2005) Irrigated land: 3,940 sq km (2003) Natural hazards: NA Environment - current issues: toxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective and poses health risks; water pollution from raw sewage; limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation Geography - note: strategic location in central Mediterranean; Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration