GEOGRAPHY
Area: 212,457 sq. km. (82,030 sq. mi.); about the size
of Colorado. It is bordered on the north by the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.),
on the northwest by Saudi Arabia, and on the southwest by the Republic of Yemen.
The Omani coastline stretches 2,092 km.
Cities: Capital--Muscat. Other cities--Matrah, Ruwi, Nizwa, Salalah,
Sohar.
Terrain: Mountains, plains, and arid plateau.
Climate: Hot, humid along the coast; hot, dry in the interior; summer
monsoon in far south.
Location: Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea,
Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and the United
Arab Emirates
Map references: Middle East
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
International disputes: no defined boundary with most
of UAE; Administrative Line with UAE in far north
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
international agreements: party to - Law of the Sea,
Marine Dumping, Ship Pollution, Whaling; signed, but not ratified
- Biodiversity, Climate Change
Note: strategic location with small foothold on Musandam
Peninsula controlling Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point
for world crude oil
