| Location: |
Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India
|
| Geographic coordinates: |
7 00 N, 81 00 E
|
| Area: |
total:
65,610 sq km
land:
64,740 sq km
water:
870 sq km
|
| Area - comparative: |
slightly larger than West Virginia
|
| Maritime claims: |
contiguous zone:
24 NM
continental shelf:
200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone:
200 NM
territorial sea:
12 NM
|
| Climate: |
tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October)
|
| Terrain: |
mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior
|
| Elevation extremes: |
lowest point:
Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Pidurutalagala 2,524 m
|
| Natural resources: |
limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay, hydropower
|
| Land use: |
arable land:
14%
permanent crops:
15%
permanent pastures:
7%
forests and woodland:
32%
other:
32% (1993 est.)
|
| Irrigated land: |
5,500 sq km (1993 est.)
|
| Natural hazards: |
occasional cyclones and tornadoes
|
| Environment - current issues: |
deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by poaching and urbanization; coastal degradation from mining activities and increased pollution; freshwater resources being polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff; waste disposal; air pollution in Colombo
|
| Environment - international agreements: |
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:
Marine Life Conservation
|
| Geography - note: |
strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes
|
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