Location:
island 300 km southeast of Puerto Rico

Geographic coordinates:
18 05 N, 63 57 W

Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 54.4 sq km
country comparison to the world: 231
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 54.4 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: NEGL
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]

Area - comparative:
more than one-third the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
total: 15 km
[see also: Land boundaries - total country ranks ]
border countries: Sint Maarten 15 km

Coastline:
58.9 km (for entire island)
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Climate:
temperature averages 80-85 degrees all year long; low humidity, gentle trade winds, brief, intense rain showers; July-November is the hurricane season

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Ocean 0 m
[see also: Elevation extremes - lowest point country ranks ]
highest point: Pic du Paradis 424 m
[see also: Elevation extremes - highest point country ranks ]

Natural resources:
salt

Natural hazards:
subject to hurricanes from July to November

Environment - current issues:
fresh water supply is dependent on desalinization of sea water

Geography - note:
the island of Saint Martin is the smallest landmass in the world shared by two independent states, the French territory of Saint Martin and the Dutch territory of Sint Maarten