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Location:
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Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India
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Geographic coordinates:
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7 00 N, 81 00 E
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Map references:
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Asia
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Area:
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total: 65,610 sq km
water: 870 sq km
land: 64,740 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly larger than West Virginia
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Land boundaries:
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0 km
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Coastline:
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1,340 km
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Maritime claims:
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contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
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Climate:
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tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October)
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Terrain:
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mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pidurutalagala 2,524 m
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Natural resources:
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limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay, hydropower
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Land use:
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arable land: 13.43%
permanent crops: 15.78%
other: 70.79% (1998 est.)
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Irrigated land:
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6,510 sq km (1998 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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occasional cyclones and tornadoes
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Environment - current issues:
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deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by poaching and urbanization; coastal degradation from mining activities and increased pollution; freshwater resources being polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff; waste disposal; air pollution in Colombo
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
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Geography - note:
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strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes
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