Geography of Qatar
Location: | Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia |
Geographic coordinates: | 25 30 N, 51 15 E |
Map references: | Middle East |
Area: | total: 11,437 sq km land: 11,437 sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative: | slightly smaller than Connecticut |
Land boundaries: | total: 60 km border countries: Saudi Arabia 60 km |
Coastline: | 563 km |
Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: as determined by bilateral agreements or the median line |
Climate: | arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers |
Terrain: | mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel |
Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Qurayn Abu al Bawl 103 m |
Natural resources: | petroleum, natural gas, fish |
Land use: | arable land: 1.64% permanent crops: 0.27% other: 98.09% (2005) |
Irrigated land: | 130 sq km (2002) |
Natural hazards: | haze, dust storms, sandstorms common |
Environment - current issues: | limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities |
Environment - international agreements: | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
Geography - note: | strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits |