Article Outline
Somalia, republic in East Africa, occupying the tip of the Horn of Africa. The dry, sparsely populated country has been in a state of civil war and anarchy since 1991, when the central government was overthrown. Somalia is bounded on the north by the Gulf of Aden, on the east and south by the Indian Ocean, on the southwest by Kenya, on the west by Ethiopia, and on the northwest by Djibouti. The total area is 637,700 sq km (246,200 sq mi). Mogadishu is the capital and largest city.
Somalia has a long coastline, extending for 3,025 km (1,880 mi), but it has few natural harbors. A sandy coastal plain borders on the Gulf of Aden in the north. A series of mountain ranges, with average elevations between about 915 and 2,135 m (about 3,000 and 7,000 ft), dominates the northern part of the country. Shimbiris, the highest peak in Somalia at 2,416 m (7,927 ft) tall, is located here. To the south, the interior consists of a rugged plateau, ranging in elevation from about 500 m (about 1,640 ft) in the north to less than 180 m (600 ft) in the south. In the south, a wide coastal plain, which has many sand dunes, borders on the Indian Ocean. The country’s two major rivers are found on the southern plateau, the Jubba (Genalē) in the southern part and the Shabeelle (Shebelē) River in the south central section.
The climate of Somalia ranges from tropical to subtropical and from arid to semiarid. Temperatures usually average 28°C (82°F), but may be as low as 0°C (32°F) in the mountain areas and as high as 47°C (116°F) along the coast. The monsoon winds bring a dry season from September to December and a rainy season from March to May. The average annual rainfall is only about 280 mm (about 11 in).
Vegetation in Somalia consists chiefly of coarse grass and stunted thorn and acacia trees. Aromatic bushes producing frankincense and myrrh are indigenous to the mountain slopes. In southern Somalia, eucalyptus, euphorbia, and mahogany trees are found.
Wildlife is abundant and includes such larger animals as the lion, giraffe, rhinoceros, leopard, zebra, and hyena. Among smaller animals are several species of antelope, warthog, monkey, and baboon. Birds of prey, found throughout the country, include eagles, kites, and storks; game birds include varieties of guinea fowl, partridge, sandgrouse, and bustard. Snakes, scorpions, and centipedes live in the dry plains, and crocodiles in the coastal waters.
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