CIA Factbook The World Factbook 1994: LibyaGeography Location: Northern Africa, on the southern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Tunisia Area: • total area: 1,759,540 sq km • land area: 1,759,540 sq km • comparative area: slightly larger than Alaska Land boundaries: total 4,383 km, Algeria 982 km, Chad 1,055 km, Egypt 1,150 km, Niger 354 km, Sudan 383 km, Tunisia 459 km Coastline: 1,770 km Maritime claims: • territorial sea: 12 nm Gulf of Sidra closing line: 32 degrees 30 minutes north International disputes: the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled in February 1994 that the 100,000 sq km Aozou Strip between Chad and Libya belongs to Chad, and that Libya must withdraw from it by 31 May 1994; Libya had withdrawn its forces in response to the ICJ ruling, but as of June 1994 still maintained an airfield in the disputed area; maritime boundary dispute with Tunisia; claims part of northern Niger and part of southeastern Algeria Climate: Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior Terrain: mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, gypsum Land use: • arable land: 2% • permanent crops: 0% • meadows and pastures: 8% • forest and woodland: 0% • other: 90% Irrigated land: 2,420 sq km (1989 est.) Environment: • current issues: desertification; sparse natural surface-water resources; the Great Manmade River Project, the largest water development scheme in the world, is being built to bring water from large aquifers under the Sahara to coastal cities • natural hazards: hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to four days in spring and fall • international agreements: party to—Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified—Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea