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Location:
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Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)
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Geographic coordinates:
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35 50 N, 14 35 E
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Map references:
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Europe
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Area:
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total: 316 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 316 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
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Land boundaries:
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0 km
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Coastline:
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196.8 km (does not include 56.01 km for the island of Gozo)
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Maritime claims:
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contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive fishing zone: 25 NM
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
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Climate:
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Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers
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Terrain:
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mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli)
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Natural resources:
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limestone, salt, arable land
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Land use:
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arable land: 31.25%
permanent crops: 3.13%
other: 65.62% (1998 est.)
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Irrigated land:
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20 sq km (1998 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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NA
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Environment - current issues:
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very limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on desalination
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, 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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the country comprises an archipelago, with only the three largest islands (Malta, Ghawdex or Gozo, and Kemmuna or Comino) being inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors; Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration
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