Geographic coordinates: 20 00 S, 47 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total:
587,040 sq km
land:
581,540 sq km
water:
5,500 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Arizona
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 4,828 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm
continental shelf:
200 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500-m deep isobath
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
Climate: tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south
Terrain: narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center
Elevation extremes:
lowest point:
Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Maromokotro 2,876 m
Natural resources: graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower
Land use:
arable land:
4%
permanent crops:
1%
permanent pastures:
41%
forests and woodland:
40%
other:
14% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10,870 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: periodic cyclones
Environment - current issues: soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes; several species of flora and fauna unique to the island are endangered
Environment - international agreements:
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:
Law of the Sea
Geography - note: world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique Channel
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