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: 1,910 sq km land: 346 sq km water: 1,564 sq km |
Area - comparative: |
twice the size of Washington, DC |
Land boundaries: |
0 km |
Coastline: |
188 km |
Maritime claims: |
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
Climate: |
subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season September 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 475 m |
Natural resources: |
sun, sand, sea, surf |
Land use: |
arable land: 5.71% permanent crops: 2.86% other: 91.43% (2005) |
Irrigated land: |
NA |
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 |