Somalia

Location:
Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian
Ocean, east of Ethiopia
Geographic coordinates:
10 00 N, 49 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
Total: 637,657 sq km
Land: 627,337 sq km
Water: 10,320 sq km
Area - comparative:
Slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:
Total: 2,340 km
border countries:
Djibouti 58 km, Ethiopia 1,600 km, Kenya 682 km
Coastline:
3,025 km
Climate:
Principally desert; northeast monsoon (December to
February), moderate temperatures in north and very hot
in south; southwest monsoon (May to October), torrid in
the north and hot in the south, irregular rainfall, hot and
humid periods (tangambili) between monsoons
Terrain:
Mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north
Elevation extremes:
Lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Highest point: Shimbiris 2,416 m
Natural resources:
Uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore,
tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt, natural gas, likely oil
reserves
Geography :
Strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern
approaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea
and Suez Canal
Population:
8,863,338
This estimate was derived from an official census taken in
1975 by the Somali Government; (July 2006 est.)
Nationality:
Somali(s)
Ethnic groups:
Somali 85%, Bantu and other non-Somali 15% (including
Arabs 30,000)
Religions:
Sunni Muslim
Languages:
Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English
Country name:
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Somalia
Local long form: Jamhuuriyada Demuqraadiga
oomaaliyeed
Local short form: Soomaaliya
Former: Somali Republic; Somali Democratic Republic
Government type:
No permanent national government; transitional,
parliamentary federal government
Capital:
Mogadishu
Administrative divisions:
18 regions (plural - NA, singular - gobolka); Awdal,
Bakool, Banaadir, Bari, Bay, Galguduud, Gedo, Hiiraan,
Jubbada Dhexe, Jubbada Hoose, Mudug, Nugaal, Sanaag,
Shabeellaha Dhexe, Shabeellaha Hoose, Sool, Togdheer,
Woqooyi Galbeed
Independence:
1 July 1960
National holiday:
Foundation of the Somali Republic, 1 July (1960); note - 26
June (1960) in Somaliland
Currency :
Somali shilling (SOS)
Exchange rates:
Somali shillings per US dollar - 1,438.3 (2006) official rate;
the unofficial black market rate was about 23,000 shillings
per dollar as of February 2007
note: the Republic of Somaliland, a self-declared
independent country not recognized by any foreign
government, issues its own currency, the Somaliland shilling

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