Geography Of Kenya

Location:

Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania

Geographic coordinates:

Map references:

Africa

Area:

• Total: 582,650 km²

• Land: 569,250 km²

• Water: 13,400 km²

Land boundaries:

• Total: 3,446 km

• Border countries: Ethiopia 830 km, Somalia 682 km, Sudan 232 km, Tanzania 769 km, Uganda 933 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 barites, rubies, fluorspar, garnets, wildlife, hydropower

Land use:

• Arable land: 7%

• Permanent crops: 1%

• Permanent pastures: 37%

• Forests and woodland: 30%

• Other: 25% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land:

660 km² (1993 est.)

Natural hazards:

Recurring drought in northern and eastern regions; flooding during rainy seasons

Environment--current issues:

Water pollution from urban and industrial wastes; degradation of water quality from increased use of pesticides and fertilizers; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; poaching

Environment--international agreements:

• Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

• Signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography--note:

The Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa; glaciers on Mt. Kenya; unique physiography supports abundant and varied wildlife of scientific and economic value

See also

• Kenya
• List of national parks of Kenya

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