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Location:
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Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico
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Geographic coordinates:
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16 45 N, 62 12 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: 102 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 102 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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about 0.6 times 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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40 km
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Maritime claims:
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exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 3 NM
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Climate:
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tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation
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Terrain:
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volcanic island, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Chances Peak (in the Soufriere Hills volcanic complex) 914 m
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Natural resources:
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NEGL
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Land use:
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arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 80% (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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severe hurricanes (June to November); volcanic eruptions (Soufriere Hills volcano has erupted continuously since 1996)
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Environment - current issues:
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land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation
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Geography - note:
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the island is entirely volcanic in origin and contains seven active volcanoes
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