Geography of Libya (original) (raw)

**Location:**Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Tunisia

**Geographic coordinates:**25 00 N, 17 00 E

**Map references:**Africa

Area:
_total:_1,759,540 km�
_land:_1,759,540 km�
_water:_0 km�

**Area - comparative:**slightly larger than Alaska

Land boundaries:
_total:_4,383 km
border countries: 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 nautical miles
note: Gulf of Sidra closing line - 32 degrees 30 minutes north

**Climate:**Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior

**Terrain:**mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions

Elevation extremes:
_lowest point:_Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m
_highest point:_Bikku Bitti 2,267 m

Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, gypsum

Land use:
_arable land:_1%
_permanent crops:_0%
_permanent pastures:_8%
_forests and woodland:_0%
_other:_91% (1993 est.)

**Irrigated land:**4,700 km� (1993 est.)

**Natural hazards:**hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to four days in spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms

**Environment - current issues:**desertification; very limited natural fresh 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

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Climate Change, Desertification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Law of the Sea

See also : Libya