Geography:
Cities: Capital- -Nairobi (pop. 1.2 million in 1991). Other
cities--Mombasa (450,000), Kisumu (150,000), Nakuru (150,000).
Terrain: Kenya rises from a low coastal plain on the Indian Ocean in
a series of mountain ridges and plateaus which stand above 3,000 meters
(9,000 ft.) in the center of the country. The Rift Valley bisects the
country above Nairobi opening up to arid plain in the north. Mountain
plains cover the south before descending to the shores of Lake Victoria
in the west.
Climate: Varies from the tropical south, west, and central regions
to arid and semi-arid wasteland in the north and the northeast.
Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between
Somalia and Tanzania
Area:
total area: 582,650 sq km
land area: 569,250 sq km
comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Nevada
Land boundaries: total 3,446 km, 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
International disputes: administrative boundary with Sudan does not coincide with international boundary; possible claim by Somalia based on unification of ethnic Somalis
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
Natural resources: gold, limestone, soda ash, salt barytes, rubies, fluorspar, garnets, wildlife
Land use:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 1%
meadows and pastures: 7%
forest and woodland: 4%
other: 85%
Irrigated land: 520 sq km (1989)
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
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear
Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling;
signed, but not ratified - Desertification
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