Location Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon

Geographic coordinates 31 30 N, 34 45 E

Map references Middle East

Area
total: 20,770 sq km
land: 20,330 sq km
water: 440 sq km

Area - comparative slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries
total: 1,006 km
border countries: Egypt 255 km, Gaza Strip 51 km, Jordan 238 km, Lebanon 79 km, Syria 76 km, West Bank 307 km

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; Jordan Rift Valley

Elevation extremes
lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
highest point: Har Meron 1,208 m

Natural resources copper, phosphates, bromide, potash, clay, sand, sulfur, asphalt, manganese, small amounts of natural gas and crude oil

Land use
arable land: 17%
permanent crops: 4%
permanent pastures: 7%
forests and woodland: 6%
other: 66% (1993 est.)

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

Natural hazards sandstorms may occur during spring and summer

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: Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note there are 207 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the West Bank, 42 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 24 in the Gaza Strip, and 29 in East Jerusalem (August 1997 est.)

NOTE: The information regarding Israel 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 Israel Geography 1998 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Israel Geography 1998 should be addressed to the CIA.