GeoFroggy

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Background

Bahrain's small size and central location among Persian Gulf countries require it to play a delicate balancing act in foreign affairs among its larger neighbors. Facing declining oil reserves, Bahrain has turned to petroleum processing and refining and has transformed itself into an international banking center. The new amir, installed in 1999, has pushed economic and political reforms and has worked to improve relations with the Shi'a community. In February 2001, Bahraini voters approved a referendum on the National Action Charter - the centerpiece of the amir's political liberalization program. In February 2002, Amir HAMAD bin Isa Al Khalifa proclaimed himself king. In October 2002, Bahrainis elected members of the lower house of Bahrain's reconstituted bicameral legislature, the National Assembly.

Location

Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia

Area Comparative

3.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Maritime Claims

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Contiguous zone: 24 nm

Continental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determined

Climate

Arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers

Natural Hazards

Periodic droughts; dust storms

Environment Current Issues

Desertification resulting from the degradation of limited arable land, periods of drought, and dust storms; coastal degradation (damage to coastlines, coral reefs, and sea vegetation) resulting from oil spills and other discharges from large tankers, oil refineries, and distribution stations; lack of freshwater resources, groundwater and seawater are the only sources for all water needs

Environment International Agreements

Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

Signed, but not ratified: None of the selected agreements

Geography Note

Close to primary Middle Eastern petroleum sources; strategic location in Persian Gulf, through which much of the Western world's petroleum must transit to reach open ocean

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Map Reference

Middle East

Irrigated Land 1998

50 sq km

Area 2005

Total

665 sq km
Land

665 sq km
Water

0 sq km

Coastline

161 km

Geographical Coordinates

26 00 N, 50 33 E

Land use 2005

Arable Land
2.82%
Permanent Crops
5.63%
Other
91.55%

Terrain

Mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment

Elevation

Lowest Point: Persian Gulf 0 m
Highest Point: Jabal ad Dukhan 122 m

Land Boundaries

0 km

Natural Resources

Oil
Associated and nonassociated natural gas

Fish
Pearls

Bahrain