The Land

• LocationEastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia
• Land boundaries2,385 km total — Djibouti 61 km, Ethiopia 1,640 km, Kenya 684 km
• TerrainMostly flat to undulating plateau, rising to hills in the north
• ElevationHighest point Mount Shimbiris, 2,460 m; lowest point the Indian Ocean, 0 m; mean elevation 410 m
• ClimatePrincipally desert; northeast monsoon (Dec–Feb) moderate in the north, hot in the south; southwest monsoon (May–Oct) torrid in the north, hot in the south, with irregular rainfall
• Natural resourcesUranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt, natural gas, and likely oil reserves
• Natural hazardsRecurring droughts; frequent dust storms over the eastern plains in summer; floods during the rainy season
• Strategic positionOn the Horn of Africa along the southern approaches to Bab el Mandeb and the route through the Red Sea and Suez Canal

Regions (gobollo): Awdal, Bakool, Banaadir, Bari, Bay, Galguduud, Gedo, Hiiraan, Jubbada Dhexe (Middle Jubba), Jubbada Hoose (Lower Jubba), Mudug, Nugaal, Sanaag, Shabeellaha Dhexe (Middle Shabeelle), Shabeellaha Hoose (Lower Shabeelle), Sool, Togdheer, Woqooyi Galbeed — including the self-declared Republic of Somaliland in the northwest. See State & Governance for the federal structure that governs them.