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 The Qatari peninsula juts 100 miles (160 km) into the Persian Gulf from Saudi Arabia. Much of the country consists of a low, barren plain, covered with sand. To the southeast lies the spectacular Khor al Adaid or 'Inland Sea', an area of rolling sand dunes surrounding an inlet of the Gulf.
The highest point in Qatar occurs in the Jebel Dukhan to the west, a range of low limestone outcrops running north-south from Zikrit through Umm Bab to the southern border, and reaching about 295 feet (90 m) ASL. This area also contains Qatar's main onshore oil deposits, while the natural gas fields lie offshore, to the northwest of the peninsula.
Location: |
Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia |
Geographic coordinates: |
25 30 N, 51 15 E |
Area: |
total: 11,437 sq km
land: 11,437 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative: |
slightly smaller than Connecticut |
Land boundaries: |
total: 60 km
border countries: Saudi Arabia 60 km |
Coastline: |
563 km |
Maritime claims: |
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: as determined by bilateral agreements or the median line |
Climate: |
arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers |
Terrain: |
mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel |
Elevation extremes: |
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Qurayn Abu al Bawl 103 m |
Natural resources: |
petroleum, natural gas, fish |
Land use: |
arable land: 1.64%
permanent crops: 0.27%
other: 98.09% (2005) |
Irrigated land: |
130 sq km (2002) |
Natural hazards: |
haze, dust storms, sandstorms common |
Environment - current issues: |
limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities |
Environment - international agreements: |
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
Geography - note: |
strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits |
Source: The World Factbook, Wikipedia
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