Geography and Climate
Main articles: Geography of Kuwait and Climate of KuwaitLocated in the north-east corner of the Arabian Peninsula, Kuwait is one of the smallest countries in the world in terms of land area. It lies between latitudes 28° and 31° N, and longitudes 46° and 49° E. The flat, sandy Arabian Desert covers most of Kuwait. The country is generally low lying, with the highest point being 306 m (1,004 ft) above sea-level. It has nine islands, all of which, with the exception of Failaka Island, are uninhabited. With an area of 860 km2 (330 sq mi), the Bubiyan is the largest island in Kuwait and is connected to the rest of the country by a 2,380 m (7,808 ft) long bridge. The land area is considered arable and sparse vegetation is found along its 499 km long coastline. Kuwait City is located on Kuwait Bay, a natural deep-water harbor.
Kuwait has some of the world's richest oil fields with the Burgan field having a total capacity of approximately 70 billion barrels (1.1×1010 m3) of proven oil reserves. During the 1991 Kuwaiti oil fires, more than 500 oil lakes were created covering a combined surface area of about 35.7 km2 (13.8 sq mi). The resulting soil contamination due to oil and soot accumulation had made eastern and south-eastern parts of Kuwait uninhabitable. Sand and oil residue had reduced large parts of the Kuwaiti desert to semi-asphalt surfaces. The oil spills during the Gulf War also drastically affected Kuwait's marine resources.
The spring season in March is warm and pleasant with occasional thunderstorms. The frequent winds from the northwest are cold in winter and spring and hot in summer. Southeasterly winds, usually hot and damp, spring up between July and October; hot and dry south winds prevail in spring and early summer. The shamal, a northwesterly wind common during June and July, causes dramatic sandstorms.
| Climate data for Kuwait | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 18 (64) |
21 (70) |
26 (79) |
31 (88) |
38 (100) |
43 (109) |
43 (109) |
44.5 (112.1) |
41 (106) |
35 (95) |
26 (79) |
19 (66) |
32.1 (89.8) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 7 (45) |
9 (48) |
13 (55) |
18 (64) |
24 (75) |
27 (81) |
29 (84) |
28 (82) |
24 (75) |
19 (66) |
13 (55) |
8 (46) |
18.3 (64.9) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 25.4 (1) |
15.2 (0.598) |
12.7 (0.5) |
15.2 (0.598) |
5.1 (0.201) |
0.20 (0.0079) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
2.5 (0.098) |
12.7 (0.5) |
17.8 (0.701) |
106.8 (4.205) |
| Source: weather.com | |||||||||||||
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Sandstorm over Kuwait in April 2003
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Topography of Kuwait
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Sandstorm over Al Ahmadi in 2011
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The Burqan Field
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Nine Islands of Kuwait
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