
Bahrain Geography
Bahrain Geography: A summary of information about Bahrain Geography, from government research data as well as independent research and other sources.
Bahrain: Geography
Location
Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates
26 00 N, 50 33 E
Map references
Middle East
Area
total: 620 sq km land: 620 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative
3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries
0 km
Coastline
161 km
Maritime claims
contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determined territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate
arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
Terrain
mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Jabal ad Dukhan 122 m
Natural resources
oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish
Land use
arable land: 1% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 6% forests and woodland: 0% other: 92% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land
10 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards
periodic droughts; dust storms
Environment - current issues
desertification resulting from the degradation of limited arable land, periods of drought, and dust storms; coastal degradation (damage to coastlines, coral reefs, and sea vegetation) resulting from oil spills and other discharges from large tankers, oil refineries, and distribution stations; no natural fresh water resources so that groundwater and sea water are the only sources for all water needs
Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note
close to primary Middle Eastern petroleum sources; strategic location in Persian Gulf which much of Western world's petroleum must transit to reach open ocean