Location Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania

Geographic coordinates 1 00 N, 38 00 E

Map references Africa

Area
total: 582,650 sq km
water: 13,400 sq km
land: 569,250 sq km

Area - comparative slightly more than twice the size of Nevada

Land boundaries
total: 3,477 km
border countries: Ethiopia 861 km, Somalia 682 km, Sudan 232 km, Tanzania 769 km, Uganda 933 km

Coastline 536 km

Maritime claims
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior

Terrain low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west

Elevation extremes
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Kenya 5,199 m

Natural resources gold, limestone, soda ash, salt barites, rubies, fluorspar, garnets, wildlife, hydropower

Land use
arable land: 7%
permanent crops: 1%
other: 92% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land 670 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards recurring drought; flooding during rainy seasons

Environment - current issues water pollution from urban and industrial wastes; degradation of water quality from increased use of pesticides and fertilizers; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; poaching

Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note the Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa; glaciers are found on Mount Kenya, Africa's second highest peak; unique physiography supports abundant and varied wildlife of scientific and economic value

NOTE: The information regarding Kenya on this page is re-published from the 2002 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Kenya Geography 2002 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Kenya Geography 2002 should be addressed to the CIA.