Israel Geography

Country Name: State of Israel

Capital City: Jerusalem

Population: 6,426,679 (2007 est.)

Population Growth: 1.154% (2007 est.)

Currency: new Israeli shekel (ILS);

Languages: Hebrew (official)

Area: 20,770 sq km

Inflation Rate: -0.1% (2006)

Unemployment Rate: 8.3% (2006)

Domain extension: .il

GEOGRAPHIC DETAILS OF ISRAEL

Location:

Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon

Geographic Co-ordinates:

31 30 N, 34 45 E

Area - total:

20,770 sq km

Area - total:

20,770 sq km

Area - land:

20,330 sq km

Area - water:

440 sq km

Land Boundaries:

1,017 km

Border Countries:

Egypt 266 km, Gaza Strip 51 km, Jordan 238 km, Lebanon 79 km, Syria 76 km, West Bank 307 km

Terrain:

Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central mountains; Jordan Rift Valley

Elevation - highest point:

Har Meron 1,208 m

Elevation - lowest point:

Dead Sea -408 m

Natural Resources:

timber, potash, copper ore, natural gas, phosphate rock, magnesium bromide, clays, sand

Arable Land:

15.45%

Permanent Crops:

3.88%

Other Land Use:

80.67% (2005)

Natural Hazards:

sandstorms may occur during spring and summer; droughts; periodic earthquakes