Location:
Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania
Geographic coordinates:
1 00 N, 38 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
Area - comparative: Land boundaries:
Coastline: Maritime claims:
Climate: Terrain: Elevation extremes:
Natural resources: Land use:
Irrigated land: Total renewable water resources: Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Natural hazards: Environment - current issues: Environment - international agreements:
Geography - note:
total:
580,367 sq km
country comparison to the world: 49
land:
569,140 sq km
water:
11,227 sq km
Area comparison map:
total:
3,477 km
border countries:
Ethiopia 861 km, Somalia 682 km, South Sudan 232 km, Tanzania 769 km, Uganda 933 km
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]
536 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]
territorial sea:
12 nm
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
continental shelf:
200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior
More Climate Details
low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west
lowest point:
Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Mount Kenya 5,199 m
limestone, soda ash, salt, gemstones, fluorspar, zinc, diatomite, gypsum, wildlife, hydropower
arable land:
9.48%
permanent crops:
1.12%
other:
89.4% (2011)
1,032 sq km (2003)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]
30.7 cu km (2011)
[see also: Total renewable water resources country ranks ]
total:
2.74 cu km/yr (17%/4%/79%)
per capita:
72.96 cu m/yr (2003)
recurring drought; flooding during rainy seasons
volcanism:
limited volcanic activity; the Barrier (elev. 1,032 m) last erupted in 1921; South Island is the only other historically active volcano
water pollution from urban and industrial wastes; degradation of water quality from increased use of pesticides and fertilizers; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; poaching
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
the Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa; glaciers are found on Mount Kenya, Africa's second highest peak; unique physiography supports abundant and varied wildlife of scientific and economic value