OMAN AT A GLANCE.
Location:
Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and the United Arab Emirates
Area:
total area: 212,460 sq km ,land area: 212,460 sq km ,comparative area: slightly smaller than Kansas
Land boundaries:
total 1,374 km, Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km, Yemen 288 km
Coastline: 2,092 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm, exclusive economic zone: 200 nm, territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south
Terrain: vast central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south
Natural resources: petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas
Land use:
arable land: less than 2%, permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 5%, forest and woodland: 0%, other: 93%
Irrigated land: 410 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; very limited natural fresh water resources
natural hazards: summer winds often raise large sandstorms and duststorms in interior; periodic droughts
Note:
strategic location with small foothold on Musandam Peninsula controlling Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil
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