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Description
The Arab region is comprised of 21 countries, extending from North Africa to South West Asia, over an estimated total area of 14.1 million square kilometres. Its vast terrain includes physiographic features of plains, plateaus, dry valleys and relatively limited highlands and mountainous areas.
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Countries of the region are distinguished by vast coastal areas overlooking segments of the Arabian Gulf, the Arabian sea, the Red Sea, the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The region's population is expected to reach over 290 million by 2010, with a continued growth rate estimated at an average of 2 per cent per annum.
Aridity is the main climatic feature of the Arab region, and hyper-arid or arid conditions prevail in over 89 per cent of the area, while the remaining 11 per cent of semiarid and limited sub-humid areas are confined to elevated lands. Marginal rainfall of up to 350 millimetres per year extends over the arid areas, while semi-arid zones experience between 400 and 800 mm/year and sub-humid areas between 800 and 1,500 mm/year. However, rainfall throughout the region is characterized by rapid changes in spacial distribution, seasonal variation, inter-annual variability, varied intensities of sporadic showers and changing... |
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