Topography

Somalia is bounded on the north by the Gulf of Aden and to the east and south lies the Indian Ocean. It is then bounded on the west by Ethiopia, on the southwest by Kenya and on the northwest by Djibouti.

The northern zone of desert plains rises up to the Ogo and Migiurtinia mountains, which have their highest peak of 2,408m at Surud Ad. The Ogo Plateau extends south from the mountains into the grazing pastures of the Haud Plateau.

In the south, the sandy and arid coastal plains lead to the Shebeli-Juba lowlands and plateau which has a much more temperate climate. The landscape changes from mountains in the north, passes through savannah plains and extends down to the sub-tropical region of the south.

The south is largely a rugged plateau. The extensive southern coastal plain, which has many sand dunes, borders the Indian Ocean. There are 3,200km of coastline in Somalia.

All Somalia's major rivers flow into the Indian Ocean. The main rivers are the Juba and Webi Shebeli rivers, coming from Ethiopia and flowing south. The two largest northern streams, both of which are impermanent, are the Daror and the Nugaaleed.