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Location:
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Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida, northeast of Cuba
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Geographic coordinates:
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24 15 N, 76 00 W
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Map references:
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Central America and the Caribbean
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Area:
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total: 13,940 sq km
water: 3,870 sq km
land: 10,070 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Connecticut
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Land boundaries:
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0 km
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Coastline:
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3,542 km
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Maritime claims:
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exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
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Climate:
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tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream
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Terrain:
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long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Alvernia, on Cat Island 63 m
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Natural resources:
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salt, aragonite, timber, arable land
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Land use:
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arable land: 0.6%
permanent crops: 0.4%
other: 99% (1998 est.)
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Irrigated land:
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NA sq km
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Natural hazards:
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hurricanes and other tropical storms cause extensive flood and wind damage
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Environment - current issues:
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coral reef decay; solid waste disposal
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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Geography - note:
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strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chain of which 30 are inhabited
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