Tunisia Geography

What is the terrain and geography like in Tunisia?

Overview

The Republic of Tunisia lies at the northernmost tip of Africa, a strategic location that throughout history has made it a crossroads between Europe and the Middle East. Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, and northwestern Libya form the Maghreb (the West, in Arabic), an area of common history, language, ethnic groups, and culture.

Tunisia has 1,000 miles of Mediterranean coastline. Northern Tunisia is the most heavily populated part of the country, mountainous (although elevations rarely reach 3,000 feet), and relatively fertile; this area was the breadbasket of the Roman Empire. The north also claims Tunisia's one major river, the Medjerda. Central Tunisia is a semi-arid highland with poor soil, little rainfall, and scant population. The south is arid and barren, except for occasional oases, as it merges with the Sahara.

Geography - note

strategic location in central Mediterranean; Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration

Climate

Tunisia's climate is temperate with generally mild winters and hot summers. The countryside is quite green in winter and spring; and becomes dry and brown in summer. Winters are are short, rainy, humid and chilly. The temperature is rarely below freezing. Snow falls in the northwestern mountain region. Summers in Tunis are characterized by high temperatures, occasionally reaching 120°F, with an average humidity of 60% to 70% during June, July, and August; evenings are pleasant. From mid-May until mid-October, the sky is usually cloudless and little rain falls. In an average year, only 120 days have any rainfall.

Tunisia Use of Natural Resources

Tunisia Environment

Climate:

Terrain:

mountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid south merges into the Sahara

Natural Resources:

petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt

Natural Hazards:

Irrigated Land:

1,533 Square Miles
3,970 Square Kilometers

Environmental Issues:

toxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective and poses health risks; water pollution from raw sewage; limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

Environment - International Agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Tunisia Geography

Geographic Location	Africa
Total Area	63,170 Square Miles 163,610 Square Kilometers
Land Area	59,984 Square Miles 155,360 Square Kilometers
Water Area	3,185 Square Miles 8,250 Square Kilometers
Land Boundaries	885 Miles 1,424 Kilometers
Irrigated Land	1,533 Square Miles 3,970 Square Kilometers
Border Countries	Algeria 965 km, Libya 459 km
Coastline	713 Miles 1,148 Kilometers
Geographic Coordinates	34 00 N, 9 00 E
Terrain	mountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid south merges into the Sahara
Highest Point	1,544 Meters
Highest Point Location	Jebel ech Chambi 1,544 m
Lowest Point	-17 Meters
Lowest Point Location	Shatt al Gharsah -17 m
Natural Resources	petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt
Time Zone	UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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