 | |
| Continent | Asia |
|---|---|
| Region | West Asia |
| Coordinates | 25°00′N 45°00′E / 25.000°N 45.000°E |
| Area | Ranked 12th |
| • Total | 2,149,690 km2 (830,000 sq mi) |
| • Land | 100% |
| • Water | 0% |
| Coastline | 2,640 km (1,640 mi) |
| Borders | Total: 4,415 km (2,743 mi) |
| Highest point | Jabal Sawda, 3,015 m (9,892 ft) |
| Lowest point | Persian Gulf, Red Sea 0 m (0 ft) |
| Longest river | Wadi al-Rummah 600 km (373 mi) |
| Largest lake | Al-Asfar Lake 20,000 ha (49,421 acres) |
| Climate | Most of Saudi Arabia follows a desert climate, with exceptions |
| Terrain | Mostly desert covered, some mountainous areas and plains |
| Natural resources | Petroleum, natural gas, fish, minerals, farming |
| Natural hazards | Haze, dust storms |
| Environmental issues | Desertification; depletion of ground water; lack of perennial rivers or permanent water bodies; coastal pollution from oil spills |
| Exclusive economic zone | 228,633 km2 (88,276 sq mi) |
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a country situated in West Asia, the largest country on the Arabian Peninsula, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea. Its extensive coastlines provide great leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through the Persian Gulf and the Suez Canal. The kingdom occupies 80% of the Arabian Peninsula. Most of the country's boundaries with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman, and the Republic of Yemen are undefined, so the exact size of the country remains unknown.[citation needed] The Saudi government estimate is at 2,217,949 square kilometres, while other reputable estimates vary between 2,149,690 and 2,240,000 sq. kilometres. Less than 7% of the total area is suitable for cultivation, and in the early 1960s, population distribution varied greatly among the towns of the eastern and western coastal areas, the densely populated interior oases, and the vast, almost empty deserts.