Haiti Geography 1997

Location Caribbean, western one-third of the island of Hispaniola, between theCaribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of the Dominican Republic

Geographic coordinates 19 00 N, 72 25 W

Map references Central America and the Caribbean

Area
total: 27,750 sq km
land: 27,560 sq km
water: 190 sq km

Area - comparative slightly smaller than Maryland

Land boundaries
total: 275 km
border countries : Dominican Republic 275 km

Coastline 1,771 km

Maritime claims
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf : to depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade winds

Terrain mostly rough and mountainous

Elevation extremes
lowest point : Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Chaine de la Selle 2,680 m

Natural resources bauxite

Land use
arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 13%
permanent pastures : 18%
forests and woodland: 5%
other: 44% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land 750 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe stormsfrom June to October; occasional flooding and earthquakes; periodic droughts

Environment - current issues extensive deforestation (much of the remaining forested land is beingcleared for agriculture and use as fuel); soil erosion; inadequate suppliesof potable water

Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, MarineDumping, Marine Life Conservation
signed, but not ratified: Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban

Geography - note shares island of Hispaniola with Dominican Republic (western one-thirdis Haiti, eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic)

NOTE: The information regarding Haiti on this page is re-published from the 1997 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Haiti Geography 1997 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Haiti Geography 1997 should be addressed to the CIA.