Geography of Kuwait

Kuwait is located on the northeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula, at the heart of the Gulf of Persia. The country also includes a number of islands off the coast, but only one of them, Faylakah, has a permanent settlement. Biggest island is Bubiyan in the north. Kuwait’s mainland consists of a rolling sandy plain, with some low hills to the west. The landscape slopes from southwest to northwest, and a recess has occurred around Wadi al-Batin on the Iraq border. The ridge ridges have a special significance, in that the crude oil can flow from the oil fields at Burghan to the coastal export ports due to gravity. To the north, Kuwait reaches Shatt al-Arab’s river plain. The wide Gulf of Kuwait intersects approx. 50 km inland, creating a large and well protected harbor area.

capital Kuwait

The almost 200-meter-high towers in the capital Kuwait are a well-known landmark. They are built as water towers for electricity and water supply. In the tallest tower there is a restaurant.

Climate in Kuwait

Kuwait has a subtropical desert climate, with very hot and dry summers and cool winters. The average temperature in July and August is 37 ° C and in January 14 ° C, but the maximum temperature in summer often rises to around 50 ° C and the minimum temperature can drop as low as 0 ° C in winter. The annual rainfall is 100-170 millimeters, and comes between November and April. Frequent sandstorms occur, especially in the period May-July. Vegetation is limited; the northern part of Kuwait is the gravel desert, the southern sand desert.

Seahorses

Wildlife in Kuwait

The mammalian fauna in Kuwait comprises 21 species. Frogs and desert mice dig tunnel systems in the sand to protect against solar heat and predators.

Many of the 21 reptiles also dig, e.g. thorn tail, hams, sandboa and the poisonous horn snake.

More than 360 species of birds are registered, essentially West Palarctic migratory and winter guests. Among the 35 species that breed include desert runner, several clay species and well anchovies.

Amphibians do not occur.

Eryx jaculus

The more than 200 species of fish in Kuwait’s waters range from seahorses and fly fish to large sailfish and sharks. There is also a small population of the endangered sea cow dugong.

Plant life in Kuwait

Vegetation lacks or is limited to short-term flowering of annuals after rainfall.

Geography and environment

Kuwait is a desert country. The country is one of the world’s smallest mainland states and among the world’s driest, with little rainfall and few freshwater reserves. The subtropical desert climate provides hot summers and cool winters – with summer temperatures often down to 50 ° C, down to 0 ° C in winter.

Kuwait is strategically located at the heart of the Gulf of Persia, and also includes nine islands, one of which – Faylakah – has a permanent settlement. The mainland consists of a rolling sandy plain, with low hills to the west. Kuwait has hardly arable land.

The natural conditions make the species diversity in flora and fauna limited. Among the mammals are especially rodents and reptiles, as well as gazelles, foxes and civet. More than 360 bird species have been recorded; 35 hedges. The over 200 species of fish include sailfish and sharks. A small stock of the sea cow dugong exists.

During the Second Gulf War in 1990–1991, Iraqi forces set fire to more than 700 oil wells, resulting in extensive pollution. The war also caused desert cover damage, with several sandstorms.