Location: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico Geographic coordinates: 18 20 N, 64 50 W Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total: 352 sq km land: 349 sq km water: 3 sq km Area - comparative: twice the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 188 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to November Terrain: mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Crown Mountain 474 m Natural resources: sun, sand, sea, surf Land use: arable land: 15% permanent crops: 6% permanent pastures: 26% forests and woodland: 6% other: 47% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: NA sq km Natural hazards: several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes Environment - current issues: lack of natural freshwater resources Geography - note: important location along the Anegada Passage - a key shipping lane for the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the best natural, deepwater harbors in the Caribbean
|