What is the terrain and geography like in Tunisia?
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.
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) |