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thumb|Map of Bahrain

thumb|Topography

thumb|Persian Gulf

thumb|American army map of Bahrain, 1943.

thumb|Enlargeable, detailed map of Bahrain, with most features marked in both English and Arabic

The Kingdom of Bahrain consists of Bahrain Island and 33 of the 37 Bahrain Islands, lying in the Persian Gulf's Gulf of Bahrain off the north shore of West Asia's Arabian Peninsula. Bahrain's capital city is Manama. The islands are about off the east coast of Saudi Arabia and from Qatar. The total area of the country is about , about four times the size of the District of Columbia.

In addition to Bahrain Island, other islands of significance include Nabih Saleh, which is northwest of Sitra; Jidda Island and Umm as Sabaan, to the north of Umm an Nasan; and the Hawar Islands archipelago – a group of islands to the south, the largest of which is Hawar, near the coast of Qatar.

Climate

Bahrain features an arid climate.

|date=December 2010

Climate change

thumb|Temperature change in Bahrain, each bar represents the average temperature over that year.

Due to climate change Bahrain is experiencing more frequent extreme heat, drought, flooding and dust storms and the threat of sea level rise. These conditions threaten Bahrain's food and water security, and are expected to become more severe in the future. Despite being a relatively low-emitting country overall, Bahrain was the second highest greenhouse gas emitter per capita in 2023, at approximately 42 tonnes per person. Most of Bahrain's emissions arise from burning fossil fuels in the energy sector. The nation has committed to net zero by 2060 and also aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2035.

Area and boundaries

Area:<br> total:780&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>

<br>country comparison to the world: 188

  • land:780&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>
  • water: 0&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>

Area comparative

  • USA – 3.5 times the size of Washington D.C.

Land boundaries: 0&nbsp;km

Coastline: 161&nbsp;km

Maritime claims:

  • territorial sea:
  • contiguous zone:
  • continental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determined

Elevation extremes:

  • lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
  • highest point: Jabal ad Dukhan 122 m

Maritime neighbours:

  • Iran
  • Qatar
  • Saudi Arabia

Resources and land use

thumb|Bahrain is the eleventh most water stressed country in the world.

Natural resources:

  • oil, associated and non associated natural gas, fish, pearls

Land use:

  • arable land: 2.11%
  • permanent crops: 3.95%
  • other: 93.95% (2012)

Irrigated land:

40.15&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

0.12 m³ (2011)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

  • total: 0.36&nbsp;km<sup>3</sup>/yr (50%/6%/45%)
  • per capita: 386 m³/yr (2003)

Environmental concerns

Natural hazards:

<br> periodic droughts; dust storms

Environment – current issues:<br>

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:<br>

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

See also

  • List of islands of Bahrain

Notes

References

Further reading