Page last updated on January 31, 2014

Location:
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Israel

Geographic coordinates:
31 25 N, 34 20 E

Map references:
Middle East

Area:
total: 360 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 206
land: 360 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
total: 62 km
border countries: Egypt 11 km, Israel 51 km
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]

Coastline:
40 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
see entry for Israel
note: effective 3 January 2009 the Gaza maritime area is closed to all maritime traffic and is under blockade imposed by Israeli Navy until further notice

Climate:
temperate, mild winters, dry and warm to hot summers

Terrain:
flat to rolling, sand- and dune-covered coastal plain

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
[see also: Elevation extremes - lowest point country ranks ]
highest point: Abu 'Awdah (Joz Abu 'Awdah) 105 m

Natural resources:
arable land, natural gas

Land use:
arable land: 7.39%
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 10.96%
other: 81.64% (2011)

Irrigated land:
240 sq km; note - includes West Bank (2003)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Natural hazards:
droughts

Environment - current issues:
desertification; salination of fresh water; sewage treatment; water-borne disease; soil degradation; depletion and contamination of underground water resources

Geography - note:
strategic strip of land along Mideast-North African trade routes has experienced an incredibly turbulent history; the town of Gaza itself has been besieged countless times in its history