Location:
Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela
Geographic coordinates:
12 30 N, 69 58 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 180 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 180 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 0 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data):
218
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
68.5 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12
nm
[see also: Maritime claims - territorial sea country ranks ]
exclusive economic zone: 200
nm
[see also: Maritime claims - exclusive economic zone country ranks ]
Climate:
tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
flat with a few hills; scant vegetation
Elevation:
lowest point:
Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point:
Ceru Jamanota 188 m
Natural resources:
NEGL; white sandy beaches foster tourism
Land use:
agricultural land: 11.1%
(2016 est.)
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
arable land: 11.1%
(2016 est.)
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 0%
(2016 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
permanent pasture: 0%
(2016 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent pasture country ranks ]
forest: 2.3%
(2016 est.)
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 86.6%
(2016 est.)
[see also: Land use country ranks ]
Irrigated land:
NA
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]
Population distribution:
most residents live in or around Oranjestad and San Nicolaas; most settlments tend to be located on the less mountainous western side of the island
Natural hazards:
hurricanes; lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt and is rarely threatened
Environment - current issues:
difficulty in properly disposing of waste produced by large numbers of tourists; waste burning that occurs in the landfill causes air pollution and poses an environmental and health risk; ocean environmental damage due to plastic pollution
Geography - note:
a flat, riverless island renowned for its white sand beaches; its tropical climate is moderated by constant trade winds from the Atlantic Ocean; the temperature is almost constant at about 27 degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit)
