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Location:
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Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania
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Geographic coordinates:
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1 00 N, 38 00 E
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Map references:
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Africa
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Area:
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total: 582,650 sq km
water: 13,400 sq km
land: 569,250 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly more than twice the size of Nevada
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Land boundaries:
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total: 3,477 km
border countries: Ethiopia 861 km, Somalia 682 km, Sudan 232 km, Tanzania 769 km, Uganda 933 km
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Coastline:
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536 km
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Maritime claims:
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continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
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Climate:
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varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior
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Terrain:
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low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Kenya 5,199 m
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Natural resources:
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gold, limestone, soda ash, salt, rubies, fluorspar, garnets, wildlife, hydropower
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Land use:
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arable land: 7.03%
permanent crops: 0.91%
other: 92.06% (1998 est.)
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Irrigated land:
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670 sq km (1998 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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recurring drought; flooding during rainy seasons
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Environment - current issues:
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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
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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Geography - note:
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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
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