Location:
two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas, north of Haiti

Geographic coordinates:
21 45 N, 71 35 W

Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 948 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 948 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 0 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 186

Area - comparative:
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
389 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - territorial sea country ranks ]
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - exclusive fishing zone country ranks ]

Climate:
tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry
More Climate Details

Terrain:
low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps

Elevation:
0 m lowest point: Caribbean Sea
48 highest point: Blue Hill on Providenciales and Flamingo Hill on East Caicos

Natural resources:
spiny lobster, conch

Land use:
agricultural land: 1.1% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
arable land: 1.1% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 0% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
permanent pasture: 0% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent pasture country ranks ]
forest: 36.2% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 62.7% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
0 sq km (2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Population distribution:
eight of the thirty islands are inhabited; the island of Providenciales is the most populated, but the most densely populated is Grand Turk

Natural hazards:
frequent hurricanes

Environment - current issues:
limited natural freshwater resources, private cisterns collect rainwater

Geography - note:
include eight large islands and numerous smaller cays, islets, and reefs; only two of the Caicos Islands and six of the Turks group are inhabited