This article describes the geography of Kenya.

Location

Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania

Geographic coordinates

Map references

Africa

Area

• Total: 582,650 km²
• Land: 569,250 km²
• Water: 13,400 km²

Land boundaries

• Total: 3,446 km
• Border countries: 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

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

Elevation extremes

• Lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
• Highest point: Mount Kenya 5,199 m

Natural resources

Gold, limestone, soda ash, salt barites , rubies, fluorspar, garnets, wildlife, hydropower

Land use

• Arable land: 7%
• Permanent crops: 1%
• Permanent pastures: 37%
• Forests and woodland: 30%
• Other: 25% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land

660 km² (1993 est.)

Natural hazards

Recurring drought in northern and eastern regions; flooding during rainy seasons

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

Environment--international agreements

• Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, 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: none of the selected agreements

Geography--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

See also

• Kenya
• List of national parks of Kenya