Geography (Egypt)
=================


     Total area:
         1,001,450 km2
     Land area:
         995,450 km2
     Comparative area:
         slightly more than three times the size of New Mexico
     Land boundaries:
         2,689 km; Gaza Strip 11 km, Israel 255 km, Libya 1,150 km, Sudan 1,273 km
     Coastline:
         2,450 km
     Maritime claims:
       Contiguous zone:
         24 nm
       Continental shelf:
         200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation
       Exclusive economic zone:
         undefined
       Territorial sea:
         12 nm
     Disputes:
         Administrative boundary with Sudan does not coincide with international
         boundary
     Climate:
         desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters
     Terrain:
         vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta
     Natural resources:
         crude oil, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, manganese, limestone, gypsum,
         talc, asbestos, lead, zinc
     Land use:
         arable land 3%; permanent crops 2%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and
         woodland NEGL%; other 95%; includes irrigated 5%
     Environment:
         Nile is only perennial water source; increasing soil salinization below
         Aswan High Dam; hot, driving windstorm called khamsin occurs in spring;
         water pollution; desertification
     Note:
         controls Sinai Peninsula, only land bridge between Africa and remainder of
         Eastern Hemisphere; controls Suez Canal, shortest sea link between Indian
         Ocean and Mediterranean; size and juxtaposition to Israel establish its
         major role in Middle Eastern geopolitics