Kenya Geography 1997

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
land: 569,250 sq km
water: 13,400 sq km

Area - comparative slightly more than twice the size of Nevada

Land boundaries
total: 3,446 km
border countries : Ethiopia 830 km, Somalia 682 km, Sudan 232 km, Tanzania 769 km, Uganda933 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 barytes, rubies, fluorspar, garnets,wildlife

Land use
arable land: 7%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 37%
forests and woodland : 30%
other: 25% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land 660 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards NA

Environment - current issues water pollution from urban and industrial wastes; degradation of waterquality from increased use of pesticides and fertilizers; deforestation; soilerosion; desertification; poaching

Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, MarineDumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified : Desertification

Geography - note the Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agriculturalproduction regions in Africa; glaciers on Mt. Kenya; unique physiography supportsabundant and varied wildlife of scientific and economic value

NOTE: The information regarding Kenya on this page is re-published from the 1997 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Kenya Geography 1997 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Kenya Geography 1997 should be addressed to the CIA.