Geography of Tunisia

Tunisia is located in northern Africa along the Mediterranean Sea (map). It is a relatively small African nation as it covers an area of just 63,170 square miles (163,610 sq km). Tunisia is located between Algeria and Libya and it has a varied topography. In the north, Tunisia is mountainous, while the central part of the country features a dry plain. The southern part of Tunisia is semiarid and becomes arid desert closer to the Sahara Desert. Tunisia also has a fertile coastal plain called the Sahel along its eastern Mediterranean coast. This area is famous for its olives.

The highest point in Tunisia is Jebel ech Chambi at 5,065 feet (1,544 m) and it is located in the northern part of the country near the town Kasserine. Tunisia's lowest point is Shatt al Gharsah at -55 feet (-17 m). This area is in the central part of Tunisia near its border with Algeria.

The climate of Tunisia varies with location but the north is mainly temperate and it has mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers. In the south, the climate is hot, arid desert. Tunisia's capital and largest city, Tunis, is located along the Mediterranean coast and it has an average January low temperature of 43˚F (6˚C) and an average August high temperature of 91˚F (33˚C). Because of the hot desert climate in southern Tunisia, there are very few large cities in that region of the country.