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Location: North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic
Ocean, east of North Carolina (US)
Geographic coordinates: 32 20 N, 64 45 W
Map references: North America
Area:
total: 58.8 sq km
land: 58.8 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about 0.3 times the size of Washington,
DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 103 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: subtropical; mild, humid; gales, strong winds common
in winter
Terrain: low hills separated by fertile depressions
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Town Hill 76 m
Natural resources: limestone, pleasant climate fostering
tourism
Land use:
arable land: 6%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 94% (55% developed, 39% rural/open space) (1997 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: hurricanes (June to November)
Environment - current issues: asbestos disposal; water pollution;
preservation of open space
Geography - note: consists of about 360 small coral islands
with ample rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes; some land,
reclaimed and otherwise, was leased by US Government from 1941 to
1995
Background: Bermuda was first settled in 1609 by shipwrecked
English colonists headed for Virginia. Tourism to the island to
escape North American winters first developed in Victorian times.
Bermuda has developed into highly successful offshore financial
center. A referendum on independence was soundly defeated in 1995.
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