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Location:
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Caribbean, chain of islands
in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida |
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Geographic coordinates:
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24 15 N, 76 00 W
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Map references:
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Central America and the
Caribbean |
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Area:
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total: 13,940 sq km
water: 3,870 sq km
land: 10,070 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than
Connecticut |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km
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Coastline:
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3,542 km
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Maritime claims:
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exclusive economic zone:
200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
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Climate:
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tropical marine; moderated by
warm waters of Gulf Stream |
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Terrain:
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long, flat coral formations
with some low rounded hills |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Atlantic
Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Alvernia, on Cat Island 63 m |
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Natural resources:
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salt, aragonite, timber,
arable land |
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Land use:
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arable land: 0.6%
permanent crops: 0.4%
other: 100% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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NA sq km
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Natural hazards:
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hurricanes and other tropical
storms cause extensive flood and wind damage |
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Environment - current issues:
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coral reef decay; solid waste
disposal |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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Geography - note:
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strategic location adjacent
to US and Cuba; extensive island chain of which 30 are inhabited |
