| Location: |
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico
|
| Geographic coordinates: |
17 03 N, 61 48 W
|
| Map references: |
Central America and the Caribbean
|
| Area: |
total:
442 sq km (Antigua 281 sq km; Barbuda 161 sq km)
land:
442 sq km
water:
0 sq km
note:
includes Redonda
|
| Area - comparative: |
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
|
| 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 marine; little seasonal temperature variation
|
| Terrain: |
mostly low-lying limestone and coral islands, with some higher volcanic areas
|
| Elevation extremes: |
lowest point:
Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point:
Boggy Peak 402 m
|
| Natural resources: |
NEGL; pleasant climate fosters tourism
|
| Land use: |
arable land:
18%
permanent crops:
0%
permanent pastures:
9%
forests and woodland:
11%
other:
62% (1993 est.)
|
| Natural hazards: |
hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October); periodic droughts
|
| Environment - current issues: |
water management - a major concern because of limited natural fresh water resources - is further hampered by the clearing of trees to increase crop production, causing rainfall to run off quickly
|
| Environment - international agreements: |
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
|
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