Tunisia--Geography

CIA FactbookThe World Factbook 1993: Tunisia Geography

Location: Northern Africa, 144 km from Italy across the Strait of Sicily, between Algeria and Libya

Area: total area: 163,610 km2 land area: 155,360 km2 comparative area: slightly larger than Georgia

Land boundaries: total 1,424 km, Algeria 965 km, Libya 459 km

Coastline: 1,148 km

Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: maritime boundary dispute with Libya; land boundary disputes with Algeria under discussion

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

Natural resources: petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt

Land use: arable land: 20% permanent crops: 10% meadows and pastures: 19% forest and woodland: 4% other: 47%

Irrigated land: 2,750 km2 (1989)

Environment: deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

Note: strategic location in central Mediterranean