Location:
chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida, northeast of Cuba
Geographic coordinates:
24 15 N, 76 00 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
Area - comparative: Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline: Maritime claims:
Climate: Terrain: Elevation extremes:
Natural resources: Land use:
Irrigated land: Total renewable water resources: Natural hazards: Environment - current issues: Environment - international agreements:
Geography - note:
total:
13,880 sq km
country comparison to the world: 161
land:
10,010 sq km
water:
3,870 sq km
slightly smaller than Connecticut
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]
3,542 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]
territorial sea:
12 nm
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream
More Climate Details
long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills
lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Mount Alvernia on Cat Island 63 m
salt, aragonite, timber, arable land
arable land:
0.65%
permanent crops:
0.29%
other:
99.06% (2011)
10 sq km (2003)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]
0.02 cu km (2011)
[see also: Total renewable water resources country ranks ]
hurricanes and other tropical storms cause extensive flood and wind damage
coral reef decay; solid waste disposal
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chain of which 30 are inhabited