Location:Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates:13 53 N, 60 58 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 616 sq km land: 606 sq km water: 10 sq km
Area - comparative:3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:158 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season January to April, rainy season May to August
Terrain:volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Gimie 950 m
Natural resources:forests, sandy beaches, minerals (pumice), mineral springs, geothermal potential
Land use:arable land: 6.45% permanent crops: 22.58% other: 70.97% (2005)
Irrigated land:30 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:hurricanes and volcanic activity
Environment - current issues:deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the northern region
Environment - international agreements:partyto: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:thetwin Pitons (Gros Piton and Petit Piton), striking cone-shaped peakssouth of Soufriere, are one of the scenic natural highlights of theCaribbean
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