rnational: none

Illicit drugs: significant transit country for cocaine and
derivatives of coca originating in Colombia and Peru; importer of
precursor chemicals used in production of illicit narcotics;
important money-laundering hub; increased activity on the northern
frontier by trafficking groups and Colombian insurgents

======================================================================

@Egypt

Egypt Introduction

Background: Nominally independent from the UK in 1922, Egypt
acquired full sovereignty following World War II. The completion of
the Aswan High Dam in 1971 and the resultant Lake Nasser have
altered the time-honored place of the Nile river in the agriculture
and ecology of Egypt. A rapidly growing population (the largest in
the Arab world), limited arable land, and dependence on the Nile all
continue to overtax resources and stress society. The government has
struggled to ready the economy for the new millennium through
economic reform and massive investment in communications and
physical infrastructure.

Egypt Geography

Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
Libya and the Gaza Strip

Geographic coordinates: 27 00 N, 30 00 E

Map references: Africa

Area: total: 1,001,450 sq km

land: 995,450 sq km

water: 6,000 sq km

Area - comparative: slightly more than three times the size of New
Mexico

Land boundaries: total: 2,689 km

border countries: Gaza Strip 11 km, Israel 255 km, Libya 1,150 km,
Sudan 1,273 km

Coastline: 2,450 km

Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive economic zone: 200 NM

territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate: desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters

Terrain: vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Qattara Depression -133 m

highest point: Mount Catherine 2,629 m

Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates,
manganese, limestone, gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, zinc

Land use: arable land: 2%

permanent crops: 0%

permanent pastures: 0%

forests and woodland: 0%

other: 98% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 32,460 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: periodic droughts; frequent earthquakes, flash
floods, landslides, volcanic activity; hot, driving windstorm called
khamsin occurs in spring; dust storms, sandstorms

Environment - current is