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Geography of Kenya

This article describes the geography of Kenya.

; Location:

Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania
; Geographic coordinates:
1° 00′ N, 38° 00′ E
; Map references:
Africa
; Area:
  • Total: 582,650 km²
Land: 569,250 km²
Water: 13,400 km²
; Land boundaries:
  • Total: 3,446 km
Border countries: Ethiopia 830 km, Somalia 682 km, Sudan 232 km, Tanzania 769 km, Uganda 933 km
; Coastline:
536 km
; Maritime claims:
  • Continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
; Climate:
Varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior
; Terrain:
Low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west
; Elevation extremes:
Highest point: Mount Kenya 5,199 m
; Natural resources:
Gold, limestone, soda ash, salt barites, rubies, fluorspar, garnets, wildlife, hydropower
; Land use:
  • Arable land: 7%
Permanent crops: 1%
Permanent pastures: 37%
Forests and woodland: 30%
Other: 25% (1993 est.)
; Irrigated land:
660 km² (1993 est.)
; Natural hazards:
Recurring drought in northern and eastern regions; flooding during rainy seasons
; Environment--current issues:
Water pollution from urban and industrial wastes; degradation of water quality from increased use of pesticides and fertilizers; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; poaching
; Environment--international agreements:
Signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
; Geography--note:
The Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa; glaciers on Mt. Kenya; unique physiography supports abundant and varied wildlife of scientific and economic value

See also