Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon
Geographic coordinates: 31° 30' N, 34° 45' E
Coastline km: 273 km km
Climate: temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas
Terrain: Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central mountains; Jordan Rift Valley
Elevation: lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m highest point: Har Meron 1,208 m
Natural hazards: sandstorms may occur during spring and summer; droughts; periodic earthquakes
Currency: New Israeli Shekel (ILS)
Population: 6,352,117 (July 2006 est.)
Languages: Hebrew (official), Arabic used officially for Arab minority, English most commonly used foreign language
Capital: Jerusalem
Divisions: 6 districts (mehozot, singular - mehoz); Central, Haifa, Jerusalem, Northern, Southern, Tel Aviv