Geography of Yemen

Location, area and climate are the three key elements of the geography of Yemen. The Republic of Yemen is a Middle East country, which lies in the southwestern region of Asia. It is a narrow coastal land that stretches over the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. The interiors of Yemen are occupied by highlands, which are a part of Arabian Plateau and a desert in the east.

The latitudinal location of Yemen is 15 degree north of Equator, whereas its longitudinal location is 48 degree east of Prime Meridian. The total land area of Yemen is 527,970 square kilometers with a coastline of 1906 kilometers. This Middle East country is surrounded by the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Oman and Saudi Arabia.

The climate of Yemen is generally hot and humid, except in the highlands where the average annual rainfall is measured to be 50 centimeters. The climate of the west coast of Yemen is hot and humid while that of the east is much harsh and dry because of the desert region.

There are no major rivers in Yemen. Small springs and oases are the only source of water for the people of Yemen. Hence, the geography of Yemen suggests that the country bears a semi-desert like climate.