Tunisia:
Geography

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Other pages in this profile of Tunisia:
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.


Background	Definition Rivalry between French and Italian interests in Tunisia culminated in a French invasion in 1881 and the creation of a protectorate. Agitation for independence in the decades following World War I was finally successful in getting the French to recognize Tunisia as an independent state in 1956. The country's first president, Habib BOURGUIBA, established a strict one-party state. He dominated the country for 31 years, repressing Islamic fundamentalism and establishing rights for women unmatched by any other Arab nation. In November 1987, BOURGUIBA was removed from office and replaced by Zine el Abidine BEN ALI in a bloodless coup. BEN ALI is currently serving his fourth consecutive five-year term as president; the next elections are scheduled for October 2009. Tunisia has long taken a moderate, non-aligned stance in its foreign relations. Domestically, it has sought to defuse rising pressure for a more open political society.

Location	Definition Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Libya
Geographic coordinates	Definition 34 00 N, 9 00 E
Map references	Definition Africa
Area	Definition - World rank and map total: 163,610 sq km land: 155,360 sq km water: 8,250 sq km
Area - comparative	Definition slightly larger than Georgia
Land boundaries	Definition total: 1,424 km border countries: Algeria 965 km, Libya 459 km
Coastline	Definition 1,148 km
Maritime claims	Definition territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 12 nm
Climate	Definition temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in south
Terrain	Definition mountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid south merges into the Sahara
Elevation extremes	Definition lowest point: Shatt al Gharsah -17 m highest point: Jebel ech Chambi 1,544 m
Natural resources	Definition petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt
Land use	Definition - World rank and map arable land: 17.05% permanent crops: 13.08% other: 69.87% (2005)
Irrigated land	Definition 3,940 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources	Definition 4.6 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)	Definition total: 2.64 cu km/yr (14%/4%/82%) per capita: 261 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards	Definition NA
Environment - current issues	Definition toxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective and poses health risks; water pollution from raw sewage; limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Environment - international agreements	Definition party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note	Definition strategic location in central Mediterranean; Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration

Tunisia: Geography

Tunisia:
Geography