Cities: Capital--Tunis (pop. about 1 million). Other city--Sfax
(500,000).
Terrain: Arable land in north and along central coast; south is mostly
semiarid or desert.
Climate: Hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters.
Geography
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
Algeria and Libya
Area:
total area: 163,610 sq km
land area: 155,360 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Georgia
Land boundaries: total 1,424 km, Algeria 965 km, Libya 459 km
Coastline: 1,148 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: maritime boundary dispute with Libya; land boundary dispute with Algeria settled in 1993; Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration
Climate: temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in south
Terrain: mountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid south merges into the Sahara
Natural resources: petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt
Land use:
arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 10%
meadows and pastures: 19%
forest and woodland: 4%
other: 47%
Irrigated land: 2,750 sq km (1989)
Environment:
current issues: toxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective and
presents human health risks; water pollution from raw sewage; limited
natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion;
desertification
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands;
signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Marine Life Conservation
Note: strategic location in central Mediterranean