Surface: 2.149.640 km²
Population: 16.929.294 inhabitants
Density of population: 7 inhabitants/km²
Capital: Riyadh
Official language: Arabian
Official currency: riyal
Brut Intern Product: 120.000 million $
State type: Kingdom
Imported products: car pieces, cars, constructions materials and food
Exported products: brut petroleum, petroleum products
Geographical Characteristics
Saudi Arabia occupies 80% of the Arabian half-isle and is mostly a plateau. There is a small coast plain, Tihamah,, near The Red Sea. In interior there are mountains with a height of 2.500 m called Asir Mountains. The central desert Nejd lays next to the Nafud Desert in the north and Rub al Khali Desert in the south. Over 95% of the country's surface is a desert. There are no permanents waters. T
he underground waters supports a lot of oases and springs.
Climate
The amount of rainfall is usually under 20 cm per year. The rocky zones are moister and sometimes the rainfall is 40 cm per year. In the south the wind from south-west brings rains. In the mountains it snows sometimes. In the most of the country's surface the temperatures are very high. The medium temperature in Jidda is 24ºC in January and 30ºC in July, the amount of rainfall is 6 cm per year. The numbers for Riyadh are 14ºC, 34ºC and 8 cm per year.
Transports
There are 1000 km of railway and 123.365 km of roads. Riyadh is in connection with the coasts, Yemen, Kuwait and Jordan. The main ports are Jidda, Jizan and Yanbu al Bahr on The Red Sea and Damman and Ras Tannurah in the Persian Golf.
Cities
Riyadh is the administrative capital, but also has industrial regions which produce a lot of consume goods. In Jidda are the ministers, ambassadresses and is the diplomatic capital. Is an ancient city developed in an important point on the way to Mecca. It is also an industrial center with petroleum, cement and steel factories. Mecca is the third city as size and is Mohamed’s natal city. It is annually visited by 1.5 million people. Medina, where Mohamed governed and died is another important center.
Agriculture
Less then 1% of the country's surface is cultivated, especially in the south-west. 40% is grassland and 16% of the population works in agriculture. Saudi Arabia has independence only regarding the grain but there are great plans about irrigation and desalt. There are cultivated 2 millions tones of grain annually and also fruits and vegetables. They grow over 3 millions sheep, 2.4 millions goats, 530.000 cows and 165.000 camels. They are also fishing but exports are very important for the food of the population.
Mining and Industries
Saudi Arabia is the 3rd producer and the greatest exporter of petroleum in the world. The petroleum brings 80% of the national incomes. The main regions which produce it are near Dhahran and in the north in Safaniya. The petrochemical industry is very developed. Other important industries are: steel, food, alcoholic drinks, pharmaceutical and plastics. Other deposits include gold, iron ore, copper, phosphates and bauxite.
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Surface: 2.149.640 km²