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| Location: |
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
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| Geographic coordinates: |
18 20 N, 64 50 W
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| Map references: |
Central America and the Caribbean
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| Area: |
total:
352 sq km
land:
349 sq km
water:
3 sq km
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| Area - comparative: |
twice the size of Washington, DC
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| Maritime claims: |
exclusive economic zone:
200 NM
territorial sea:
12 NM
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| Climate: |
subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to November
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| Terrain: |
mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land
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| Elevation extremes: |
lowest point:
Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point:
Crown Mountain 474 m
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| Natural resources: |
sun, sand, sea, surf
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| Land use: |
arable land:
15%
permanent crops:
6%
permanent pastures:
26%
forests and woodland:
6%
other:
47% (1993 est.)
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| Natural hazards: |
several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes
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| Environment - current issues: |
lack of natural freshwater resources
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| 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
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