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: 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
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 161
land: 10,010 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 3,870 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
slightly smaller than Connecticut
0 km
[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
[see also: Elevation extremes - lowest point country ranks ]
highest point: Mount Alvernia on Cat Island 63 m
[see also: Elevation extremes - highest point country ranks ]
salt, aragonite, timber, arable land
arable land: 0.58%
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 0.29%
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
other: 99.13% (2005)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]
10 sq km (2008)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]
NA
[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