GEOGRAPHY
Location:
Central Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Kazakstan
Geographic coordinates: 40 00 N, 60 00 E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area:
total area: 488,100 sq km
land area: 488,100 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
total: 3,736 km
border countries: Afghanistan 744 km, Iran 992 km, Kazakstan
379 km, Uzbekistan 1,621 km
Coastline: 0 km
note: Turkmenistan borders the Caspian Sea (1,768 km)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
International disputes: Caspian Sea boundaries are not
yet determined
Climate: subtropical desert
Terrain: flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes rising
to mountains in the south; low mountains along border with Iran;
borders Caspian Sea in west
lowest point: Sarygamysh Koli -110 m
highest point: Ayrybaba 3,139 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, sulfur,
salt
Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 69%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 29%
Irrigated land: 12,450 sq km (1990)
Environment:
current issues: contamination of soil and groundwater with
agricultural chemicals, pesticides; salinization, water-logging
of soil due to poor irrigation methods; Caspian Sea pollution;
diversion of a large share of the flow of the Amu Darya into irrigation
contributes to that river's inability to replenish the Aral Sea;
desertification
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: party to - Ozone Layer Protection;
signed, but not ratified - Climate Change, Desertification
Geographic note: landlocked
