Bahrain Geography Profile 2012

Bahrain, officially, Kingdom of Bahrain, a small island nation of southwestern Asia. It is situated in the Persian Gulf about midway between Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The country consists of a main island, called Bahrain, and a number of smaller ones, including Muharraq, Sitrah, and the Hawar Islands. Muharraq, Sitrah, and the country of Saudi Arabia are linked by causeway to Bahrain. The entire country has an area of only 257 square miles (665 km 2).

Much of the island of Bahrain is low and flat, but toward the interior the land rises gradually to about 400 feet (122 m) above sea level. Rainfall averages less than 5 inches (127 mm) annually; high temperatures and high humidity prevail most of the year.

Manama is the capital and largest city of Bahrain. Arabic is the language used by most Bahrainis. English, Farsi ans Urdu are also spoken. Most of the people are Arabs and followers of the Islamic faith. Bahrain's literacy rate is about 90%. Schooling is free for all children.

Climate

Bahrain has an arid to extremely arid environment. It is characterized by high temperatures, erratic and often scanty rainfall, high evapotranspiration rates (with peaks of over 10 mm/day in July) and high humidity levels due to the surrounding Arabian Gulf waters. Temperature averages vary from 17°C in winter (December-March) to 35°C in summer (June-September). The rainfall season extends from November to April, with an annual average of 70.6 mm, sufficient only to support the most drought resistant desert vegetation. The mean annual relative humidity is over 67%.