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Location:
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Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
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Geographic coordinates:
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18 20 N, 64 50 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: 352 sq km
water: 3 sq km
land: 349 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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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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188 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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subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to November
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Terrain:
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mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Crown Mountain 474 m
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Natural resources:
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sun, sand, sea, surf
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Land use:
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arable land: 15%
permanent crops: 6%
other: 79% (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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several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes
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Environment - current issues:
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lack of natural freshwater resources
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Geography - note:
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important location along the Anegada Passage - a key shipping lane for the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in the Caribbean
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